Meet the greatest traveller of all times – travels ticketless – but never gets questioned – receives worldwide acceptance with no effort. This traveller can build or break empires, relationships, people, you name it! Even strangers embrace this great traveller with no reservations whatsoever. Old, new, male, female, young or elderly all alike – they love him! Wow!! How cool!
Would you like to be like that? Do you want to know who is it and how can someone be so popular and widely accepted without having to offer any credentials – Meet the one, the only – RUMOUR!
Rumour became powerful after the downfall of Trust. Trust failed in relationships, in people, in situations. Rumour took advantage of the failing Trust and took charge. People started believing in Rumour more than they ever believed in themselves, their loved ones, their friends or in their own faith. Trust’s loss is Rumour’s gain. Rumour first walked, then ran, then flew like a wind and engulfed like a forest fire.
What were the qualities of Rumour that created such a wide acceptance in a short span? Well, Rumour knew how to be compelling and convincing without any facts. Strange isn’t it? But true! It had that unique skill. And what’s even more strange is people who question with reason and logic too, started accepting readily when it came to Rumour! They were charmed by this new imposter who promised great stories that could save the world. They needed no reality or evidence. They were willing to sacrifice long standing relationships in return for some interesting, baseless and unfounded stories by Rumour. Rumour cashed in on these naive humans! Characters were assassinated without much ado! No one thought for a second as it felt very ordinary to assassinate a co-human morally. They did not know that it was the biggest sin in itself and would come back and bite them soon. And soon enough, it did! People were devastated. Beautiful relationships built by Trust were ruined. Great empires crumbled. All in no time! People were not willing to give the good old Trust a chance. They did not want to invest time in seeking to understand the truth. They instead found it convenient to believe in Rumour.
Trust sought help from Facts. Facts tried to intervene and help the friend in need. However, Fact was punished and painted with distorted perceptions. People only saw what they wanted to see. They put 2 and 2 together and made it 4 or 5, depending on their need to match Rumour. People questioned each other’s love and genuineness. They encouraged Rumour by listening to it, engaging with it and spending their time in helping it travel far and wide. Rumour felt most powerful. It was on a massive rampage crushing all beautiful things that came in the way. Nothing seemed to have the power to stop Rumour.
Just then, Pause came in – only for a few minutes. But it created a great impact. Everyone looked around what they were doing, realized where they were headed and shook their heads in dismay. Pause was so powerful, it helped them realize how they went out of their life and gave up beautiful people and relationships – all for the sake of this imposter called Rumour. They realized Rumour was a tyrant – Rumour had no reason or logic. Rumour lacked authenticity. All that Rumour had was an attractive outward appearance. But that too began to fade. Its ugliness was exposed. They were able to see the damage this traveller had created with all the travelling. Rumour had to be stopped from travelling any further. People realized it could be dangerous to their species. People realized that Trust was more important and helpful than Rumour ever was. They realized their mistake and apologized to Trust. Trust – being their trusted friend, readily forgave. Trust helped lock Rumour in a far-far away land. And Pause was guarding the gate so no one could accidentally unlock it.
Trust helped people realize that there’s more to a person than what meets the eye – and what we need to have is patience and willingness to understand them. Rumour had hurt so many people and relations that it was now paying for its sins. Rumour had parents but they were too timid to own it. Rumour found itself all alone and eventually died. With it, went all the negative energies and bad thoughts.
Oh so well said – rumour is indeed the greatest teaveller.
I meant traveller! Sorry for the typo!