ToTo, the tortoise, and Jhabru, the zebra, went for a walk one fine day. They are known to be best friends.
ToTo: It's a wonderful evening! Ain't it?
Jhabru: Maybe. Mind if I ask you a question?
ToTo: Ha Ha. I know that you are a collector of questions. You ask me questions, I answer them and then you come up with more! But then, can I take away the pleasure of asking questions from you? I can't.
Jhabru: My dear friend, you are so wise, that I suspect that one day, you will have answered all my questions. But for now, tell me, why do you call it a wonderful evening?
ToTo: Oh, a question to which I have an answer! It drizzled a couple of hours ago, the wind is fresh and the leaves are rustling. I find each of these is a factor in my conclusion of this being a wonderful evening.
Jhabru: Ah! I can see that you are describing some external factors here, and hence your answer puts me in deep thought. Tell me my friend, would you still find this evening wonderful, assuming that you had quarrelled with me yesterday?
ToTo: Horrors! You speak of horrors in your last sentence - first, you call me friend, and then you talk about a quarrel between us! May God bless us, and such a day never occur.
ToTo: However, to answer your question, let me assume that some misfortune did fall upon us, and as you say, we quarrelled? Would I still find the evening wonderful? I'd say it depends on the perspective from which I am looking at it.
Jhabru: Well, there can always be two sides to look at the same situation. Enlighten me with the perspectives.
ToTo: The first perspective is obvious. I quarrel with you, I look out through my window, see the drizzle, hear the leaves rustle, yet, be grumpy about it and choose to ignore it. I keep thinking about our quarrel, why I was right and you were wrong, and how could I get my message across to you. This will result in sadness.
Jhabru: And which is the other perspective, by which you could enjoy this evening?
ToTo: Isn't it obvious? I first see it is a wonderful evening. I notice the fresh air, I then notice your absence. Think about our yesterday's quarrel. Think about it from the fresh perspective, and try to listen to the message that you were trying to send across. Understand what is dear to you, and then, walk out to meet and greet you. Don't you see, the fresh wind gave me a fresh perspective?
Jhabru: Well, well. O wise Toto, your argument somehow reminds me of a comic strip, in which a boy and a tiger stand beneath a star studded sky, and the boy says, "If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I’ll bet they’d live a lot differently".
ToTo: I think I know the one you are talking about. Six out of seven days, the tiger's stripes look just like yours! In some places, I'd have placed a huge bet that it was you, and not the tiger, if I had not seen all his pictures.
Jhabru: Yeah, that is the one. But, tell me, why don't people look at the stars or smell the fresh air everyday?
ToTo: Ha ha! Your questions will never end, Jhabru. God willing, we shall find an answer to all of them sooner or later. For now, give me a ride on your back, and we'll be home in time for a nice hot soup on this wonderful evening!
ToTo: It's a wonderful evening! Ain't it?
Jhabru: Maybe. Mind if I ask you a question?
ToTo: Ha Ha. I know that you are a collector of questions. You ask me questions, I answer them and then you come up with more! But then, can I take away the pleasure of asking questions from you? I can't.
Jhabru: My dear friend, you are so wise, that I suspect that one day, you will have answered all my questions. But for now, tell me, why do you call it a wonderful evening?
ToTo: Oh, a question to which I have an answer! It drizzled a couple of hours ago, the wind is fresh and the leaves are rustling. I find each of these is a factor in my conclusion of this being a wonderful evening.
Jhabru: Ah! I can see that you are describing some external factors here, and hence your answer puts me in deep thought. Tell me my friend, would you still find this evening wonderful, assuming that you had quarrelled with me yesterday?
ToTo: Horrors! You speak of horrors in your last sentence - first, you call me friend, and then you talk about a quarrel between us! May God bless us, and such a day never occur.
ToTo: However, to answer your question, let me assume that some misfortune did fall upon us, and as you say, we quarrelled? Would I still find the evening wonderful? I'd say it depends on the perspective from which I am looking at it.
Jhabru: Well, there can always be two sides to look at the same situation. Enlighten me with the perspectives.
ToTo: The first perspective is obvious. I quarrel with you, I look out through my window, see the drizzle, hear the leaves rustle, yet, be grumpy about it and choose to ignore it. I keep thinking about our quarrel, why I was right and you were wrong, and how could I get my message across to you. This will result in sadness.
Jhabru: And which is the other perspective, by which you could enjoy this evening?
ToTo: Isn't it obvious? I first see it is a wonderful evening. I notice the fresh air, I then notice your absence. Think about our yesterday's quarrel. Think about it from the fresh perspective, and try to listen to the message that you were trying to send across. Understand what is dear to you, and then, walk out to meet and greet you. Don't you see, the fresh wind gave me a fresh perspective?
Jhabru: Well, well. O wise Toto, your argument somehow reminds me of a comic strip, in which a boy and a tiger stand beneath a star studded sky, and the boy says, "If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I’ll bet they’d live a lot differently".
ToTo: I think I know the one you are talking about. Six out of seven days, the tiger's stripes look just like yours! In some places, I'd have placed a huge bet that it was you, and not the tiger, if I had not seen all his pictures.
Jhabru: Yeah, that is the one. But, tell me, why don't people look at the stars or smell the fresh air everyday?
ToTo: Ha ha! Your questions will never end, Jhabru. God willing, we shall find an answer to all of them sooner or later. For now, give me a ride on your back, and we'll be home in time for a nice hot soup on this wonderful evening!
