Curious case of muralidhar button

It was in 2006 I moved to a new organization as a trainer. I had been working for 20 years steadily with an organization, which closed down, due to mismanagement issues. So, I was forced to relocate.

 Even as a student I was an introvert, a loner and had few friends. I used to keep to myself and did not interact unnecessarily with people. But, I had a spontaneous and a crazy sense of humor, which kept the boredom away.

Then I happened to interview a young guy, for our company. He was 28 years old then..

He had a level head, on his shoulders, was well mannered, hard working and was well behaved.

We had to conduct training programs together, and for the first time we travelled together. It was to Chatisgarh. It was his first trip out of South India. For the journey he had come well prepared with some good premium brand of whiskey and a flask of cold ice. No sooner the train left the station, he started going on the rocks. I denied his offer, as it was a long time since I had boozed, and I could not afford to take risks at my age, especially while travelling. It was a long journey, and in spite of continuously drinking, he never appeared drunk or blabbered.

We finally reached our destination. After we checked in we decided to drink together.

Drinking with him was a pleasant experience, as he shared the same sense of humor I had, and within no time, we were rolling over with laughter.

I felt 15 years younger, as jokes came out tumbling out of us and felt that I was not as boring as I had believed myself to be.

We attended many trainings together, and found that we could have as much fun when sober and more when high.

He was half my age, and with his habit of pulling my leg every other second, he upgraded me  and my reaction time in giving counter comments, to someone of his age group.

He was a person who would find an opportunity for fun in the most un-imaginable situations.

Once it was pouring non stop rains in Chennai, and I was on his pillion, and both of us were soaked to the skin.  At one point the traffic simply did not even inch forward, as happens in Chennai even when there is the slightest rainfall. 

He simply got a packet of fried items [ kara boondi], shoved it on the handle and ate scoop by scoop, in the rains. Then we got down, had some  steaming tea, all the while chatting non stop.

The more our interaction, the more I became younger in mind.

I rediscovered  my laughter, my optimism, and it was his cheerful nature which reversed my mental aging process.

Three years later, we moved from that organization, and joined different firms. I imparted knowledge to young students, with the same enthusiasm and jokes and fun which had become a part of me, thanks to my mentor of laughter. I was simply the most affectionate and popular teacher. For in me, I was young again, and this quality showed.

When I was young I had read in a quote, “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”

Your life can be touched and made richer by any one. Only we have to be a source or a reflection of inspiration.