Nature Never Forgets Its Path

Usuf  Mir

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“Nature may remain silent for years, but it never forgets the path that belongs to it. I thought I was expanding my land, but I was laying the foundation of my own destruction.”

Sahil and Muneeb had been close friends since childhood. Although they belonged to two different districts, distance had never weakened their friendship. Their childhood was filled with visits to each other’s homes, playing in fields, orchards, and along the banks of streams and seasonal channels.

As the years passed and they completed their education, their paths diverged. Sahil joined government service, while Muneeb decided to expand his family’s traditional occupations of farming and trade. He owned a small shop and only ten marlas of agricultural land, where he raised vegetable seedlings, sold seeds and plants, and earned his livelihood through hard work.

Within a few years, his efforts began to bear fruit. As his income increased, he built a modern poly greenhouse. The quality of his vegetable seedlings became known far and wide, and his financial condition improved considerably.

One day, while standing on his land, he said to himself: “If only I had more land, my destiny would completely change.”

A natural stream flowed beside his land. Slowly, he began filling the edges of the stream with soil. Every year, he added a little more filling and moved his fence forward. In this way, his land gradually increased. Within a few years, his ten marlas had expanded to nearly one kanal.

On this newly added land, he built a second poly greenhouse. People admired his success, and Muneeb became convinced that he had achieved something remarkable.

One day, Sahil came to visit his old friend. As always, they sat together for a long time, remembering their childhood, and then Muneeb took him to see his land.

With great pride, he said: “Look, Sahil! I started with only ten marlas, and today… it has become nearly one kanal. I have even built a second poly greenhouse. It is all by the grace of God.”

Sahil silently examined the land. He looked at the stream, then turned towards Muneeb.

“Muneeb, you have not expanded your land; you have narrowed the stream’s course.”

Muneeb smiled. “This stream? It has not seen a flood for years. Now it is only a stream in name.”

Sahil calmly replied: “My friend, water may come late, but when it comes, it never forgets its path. Nature never forgets its path.”

Muneeb laughed softly. “You are a government employee. You do not understand the details of farming. You will see, this very land will secure my children’s future.”

Sahil did not think it was right to argue. He only said: “Alright… time itself will decide.”

Months passed, and Muneeb’s success continued to grow. His second poly greenhouse became fully productive. Different vegetable seedlings for the spring season were ready. He also stored the year’s rice harvest in a strong wooden chest and kept it safely on the same land.

He was certain that his hard work would bring even greater rewards. But nature was silent, not unaware.

At the beginning of March, continuous heavy rain fell for several days. Water from the mountains began gathering in the stream. At first, it reached the banks, then suddenly its flow became powerful.

Where the stream’s course had been narrowed over the years by filling with soil, the water broke through with full force. Within hours, both poly greenhouses were washed away. The vegetable seedlings disappeared into the mud. The wooden chest was also swept away by the strong current.

Muneeb, his relatives, and his neighbours rushed to save what they could, but water waits for no one. In a few moments, years of hard work, savings, and countless hopes were carried away.

When the news reached Sahil, he immediately went to his friend. Muneeb was sitting on the ground. His eyes were red, and his face showed complete helplessness.

The moment he saw Sahil, he embraced him and burst into tears. “Sahil… I am ruined…”

After a few moments, he said in a broken voice: “I kept thinking that I was increasing my land, but in reality I was laying the foundation of my own destruction. You warned me in time, but I laughed at your advice.”

He became silent, wiped his tears, and looked towards the sky. “I did not conquer the land. I challenged nature itself, and no human being has ever won a battle against nature.”

Sahil placed his hand on his friend’s shoulder. They remained silent for a few moments.

Then Sahil quietly said: “My friend… nature never forgets its path. It is we who sometimes forget it.”

In the distance, the same stream flowed quietly once again, as if reminding humanity that we can live in harmony with nature, but we can never block its path without paying the price.

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Author can be mailed at yousufmir555@gmail.com