Curious or Content?

I like reading stories,it's a fascinating world out there.Some have merit in it and in some you have to find the merit like "Lambert the sheepish lion" ( see here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRtKAQJUc3g).Mahabharata is also big universe of small stories as well.Conversations between a Father and son,a mother and a son,a student and a teacher,God and Man all exist here.
One such story,which I like very much and somewhere I could relate to, is a small conversation between the teacher of Kauravas and Panadavas "Dronarcharya" and his son "Ashwathama".
Now as the story goes there was a sense of jealousy brewing in Ashwathama because of his fathers affection towards Arjuna.He was outraged at the fact that his father had promised Arjuna of becoming the best archer in the whole world.Wanting to seek answers he goes to his father and asks "I am your only son and your rightful heir,still you give preference to Arjuna over me,this ain't fair".
Drona said " Son I love you and will do so unconditionally,all that is mine is yours".
Ashwathama " Why not your wisdom and knowledge then,I just want that,but you go always sharing it with Arjuna,who I think is quite an mediocre archer"
Drona smiled and said "Don't compare yourself to Arjuna,you will only disappoint yourself,as far as wisdom and knowledge go,go ahead I am right here take it from me"
Ashwathama a little bewildered "But Father you can't just give your wisdom and knowledge to me,its not a a material thing,you have to teach me"
Drona  "You do learn in my school along with the other boys,but you expect as my son to be exclusive to you,the truth is son that you have taken me for granted,you think that knowledge will come to you and knock on your door.
Ashwathamma protesting "Father that is not true,I attend all your classes,listen to everything you say and follow your instructions as well"
Drona " Yes,you do"
Ashwathama "Then why am I not Arjuna ? "
Drona "Because unlike you, Arjuna is not content with what I teach,you are always satisfied with what I teach you but Arjuna isn't. You have an ego that you are my son,Arjuna has surrendered his ego."
Ashwathama was crushed by his father's frankness he indeed quite knew in his heart the reason why his father loved Arjuna'
Drona concluded "Not every teacher gets a student like Arjuna, he is the 'Nara' (Man) who will one day reveal 'Narayana'(God) to us.
This story now has many interesting facets and complexities. Ashwathama feels that as he is the son of Drona he has the right to his knowledge as well.Arjuna is just plain curious and that is what impresses Drona.This trio of Son,Father and the Student is quite fascinating.
In our lives as well we need to introspect whether we ask our teachers or mentors the right questions like Arjuna  or are we content like Ashwathama is.

Ishq sufiyana

I came across this dargah in Delhi just behind Humayun's Tomb,it was called "Pattey-wali Dargah",where as the story goes a Sufi saint lived and meditated under a tree.

People who come to pray here eat a leaf and make a wish,if their wish is fulfilled they come back with a silver leaf.

This place has an aura around itself and offers a great deal of peace and I used to love visiting this place,it was not as crowded as the Nizamuddin.Through the months I went there I befriended the old caretaker whom I just called Baba.He had become a friend without ever revealing his name or asking mine.Effortlessly,in a quiet corner of the city,we became friends.He used to tell me Sufi stories,those he must have heard growing up.One that endures in my heart is a love story.It begins like any other:there was a man,woman,and then there was Love.In this case the man was poor,the woman privileged,the love doomed.He was a dhobi,and she a beautiful princess who lived on a high hill.

A strange love story,with unspoken Sufi tones.The young man was the son of Dhoban,a washerwoman,and he was madly in love with her,without even seeing her.His mother would go to the palace and bring down the clothes of the princess down the hill to wash by the lake.He would wash them marvelling at their beauty,imagining how the one who wore them must be.Tenderly he would wash and dry them.fold them caressingly,sprinkling Jasmines on their folds.His mother would then carry the clothes and receive praise for the job well done.Each passing week the clothes would turn newer and newer with the love of the young man.The dhoban got worried.What if the King discovered her Son's love for the princess?His head would be chopped off.'Before that happens I will end my life,'the young man said.And he did.A distraught mother washed the princess clothes and returned weeks later to the princess."Who has washed these clothes? they were not what they used to be" asked the princess."I did myself", said the Dhoban."Then who was washing them before"asked the princess.She felt the difference.These clothes had just been cleaned.No eyes of love had gazed at them.No hands had touched them with tenderness.The Dhoban finally revealed her son's secret love."Take me to his grave" the princess commanded.Together they went in the dark of the winter night down the hill and stopped in an abandoned yard where the lover lay under a mound of fresh earth."What kind of a lover are you to leave this world without even setting eyes on the object of your love?''the princess said.The earth split open,the princess stepped in,the earth closed over her.'In Love there is no death nor borders",said Baba.He didn't explain me much further nor I asked him any questions.