Dear Friends, that famous short story of Leo Tolstoy which I heard during my school days, has an eternal lesson applicable even for our present age! Best Wishes, Raj Nandy, June 2022, New Delhi.

+ WHEN THE STARTING LINE BECAME LIFE’S
                    FINISHING LINE +

ALL TYPES OF RACES HAVE A FINISHING LINE,
BE IT THE HURDEL, STEEPLECHASE , SPRINT OR
THE MARATHON  OF 26 LONG MILES.
BUT FOR THE OVER AMBITIOUS AND GREEDY
THIS FINISHING LINE NEVER ENDS!
AND HERE THE RUSSIAN TOLSTOY PRESENTS
US WITH A SHORT STORY TO TEACH US AN
ENDURING LESSON!

A  GREEDY PEASANT WAS ONCE PROMISED
ALL THE LAND HE COULD COVER GALLOPING
ON HORSE BACK TILL THE FURTHEST END.
PROVIDED HE GETS BACK TO THE STARTING
LINE BEFORE THE SUN SETS!
NOW IN HIS GREED TO GRAB MAXIMUM
LAND HE HAD GALLOPED WITHOUT ANY REST.
WHEN HE SUDENLY REALISED THAT THE SUN
HAD BEGUN TO SET IN THE DISTANT WEST!
SO HE TURNED BACK QUICKLY GALLOPING
AT BREAKNECK SPEED,
ONLY TO DROP DEAD WITH EXHAUSTION TO
MAKE HIS RACE COMPLETE!
NOW SIX FEET OF GROUND WAS ALL THAT
WAS REQUIRED FOR HIS BURIAL.
LIFE FOR HIM HAD INDEED COMPLETED A
GRAND FULL CIRCLE!
                                       -Raj Nandy, New Delhi.