A Bad Dream - The Story of Sheikh Chilli
Sheikh Chilli awoke distressed one morning. His mother, noticing his distress, asked, "Son, did you have another frightening dream tonight?" Sheikh Chilli nodded, seeking comfort in his mother's embrace. Sheikh Chilli loved his mother dearly; she was his whole world. His mother said, "I'll take you to Hakim ji. He will dispel your nightmares." After a while, they reached the Hakim's house. Sheikh Chilli recounted his troubling dream to the Hakim. "I dreamt that I had become a rat, and all the village cats were chasing me. This nightmare has been plaguing me for quite some time." Sheikh Chilli's mother pleaded with the Hakim, "Please resolve this torment for my child. I cannot bear to see him suffer."
Sheikh Chilli's mother spoke again, "Could you tell me why my son has these dreams?" Before the Hakim could respond, she continued, "When Sheikh Chilli was young, a cat scratched him. Could that be the reason for these recurring dreams?" The Hakim replied, "That's possible, but do not worry; this will soon pass. Sheikh Chilli, from now on, visit me daily for medicine and remember that you are a young man, not a rat." Sheikh Chilli, following the Hakim's instructions, began visiting him daily. They spent hours in conversation before the Hakim dispensed medicine and sent him home. Sheikh Chilli and the Hakim soon became close friends.
One evening, during their conversation, the Hakim said, "Sheikh Chilli, tell me, what would happen if one of my ears fell off?" Sheikh Chilli, gazing at the Hakim's ears, replied, "You would become half-deaf, wouldn't you?" The Hakim said, "Correct. But what if the other ear fell off too?" Sheikh Chilli responded, "Then you would become blind." The Hakim, startled, asked, "How would I become blind?" Sheikh Chilli burst into laughter, saying, "If your ears fell off, where would your spectacles be? You would become blind, wouldn't you?" The Hakim chuckled, in amusement at Sheikh Chilli's quick wit, "That's a brilliant point. I hadn't considered that." Gradually, the nightmares ceased to plague Sheikh Chilli. One day, an old friend of the Hakim's came to visit. To entertain his guest, the Hakim asked Sheikh Chilli to go to the market and purchase some hot jalebis.
Sheikh Chilli was just about to leave when he saw a large cat in the street. He panicked and ran back to the Hakim, exclaiming, "Save me!" The Hakim said, "You are no longer a rat. Why do you forget that? Go, do not be afraid!" Sheikh Chilli said, "I remember I'm not a rat, but have you told the cat? No, therefore, I will not go. Please chase the cat away first." The Hakim smiled gently and chased the cat away. The Hakim's visitor, impressed by the incident, remarked, "I knew your father well. He wishes to greet your mother." The Hakim agreed. They all enjoyed the jalebis and tea before the visitor went to meet Sheikh Chilli's mother.
The visitor asked, "Does this road lead to your home, Sheikh Chilli?" Sheikh Chilli shook his head. The visitor was perplexed. "Then where does this road lead?" Sheikh Chilli replied, "Nowhere." The visitor stared at him, "What do you mean?" Sheikh Chilli replied with innocent eyes, "Roads don't have feet; how can they go anywhere? But we can use this road to get home; it simply sits here." The visitor was delighted by Sheikh Chilli's answer. Years later, Sheikh Chilli married the old man's daughter.
This story teaches us that: Until you face your fears, they will continue to trouble you.
