Encounter with Innocence

Any one who thinks he/she is smart or intelligent has not tried to answer questions of a two year old.
Well following is the conversation i had with my two year old niece. The airport is nearby and i was showing her airplanes as they were landing and taking off.

Her : What is that?
Me : That is an airplane
Her : Where is it going?
Me : It is going to the airport.
Her : What is an airport?
Me : Airport is a place where airplanes land
Her : Why?
Me : People get into the plane at the airport
Her : Where do people go in the plane?
(Well she is from America and already knows that you have to take a plane to go there, so i thought that is easy to answer )
Me : People go to America in a plane
(That was a blunder, because the next question had me scratching my head)
Her : Why do people go to America?
(After some brain storming i recollected that she has been to America to visit her dad, so i asked)
Me : Why did you go to America?
Her : To see daddy
(I had a feeling of triumph, but it was short lived, she thought for a while and asked)
Her : Are they going to see their daddy s?
(it was a simple Yes or No question and a No would lead me into another labyrinth of questions)
Me : Yes
( I didnt expect the next question but yes there was)
Her : Are all daddies in America?

Well that was when i accepted defeat, because i knew there was no way out of it and tried to change the topic which was another blunder, it started to drizzle slightly...

Me : Did you see these water drops?
Her : yes but where are these water drops coming from?
(I knew where this was going to end but i didnt want to discourage her, so accepting the defeat before hand i proceeded )
Me : These water drops come from clouds in the sky
Her : What are clouds?
( I showed her the moving clouds in the sky and she was happy to see them, i was pleased with myself when the next lightning bolt struck me)
Her : I can't see water in the clouds
(Now if somebody can explain how water evaporates and forms clouds and then comes back in the form of rain and satisfy her i would happily give my paycheck)
Me : No dear, nobody can see water in the clouds but they contain water and when two clouds collide thats when the water falls from those clouds.
Her : How do the clouds collide?
Me : When there is wind the clouds move and collide with each other.
Her : Where is wind?
Me : It is everywhere
Her : I don't see wind
Me : Yes nobody can see the wind
Her : Then how do you know that it is there?
(This time nature came to my rescue and cool breeze passed by)
Me : DId you feel the air blowing?
Her : Yes
Me : Well that is how we know that there is wind..
Her : i like the wind, where is it going?
Me : Enough of knowledge transfer lets go and watch some cartoons
Her : Lets watch Tom and Jerry

That is my most memorable encounter with innocence.

(Hu)Man Hunt

Human beings, the most successful and thriving species that ever existed on this planet we call Earth. Human beings who had the gift of a much advanced Brain than any other species. Human beings who started with inventing technology to assist themselves in their survival. Human beings who mastered various technologies to travel by air, on water, through space, and control the climate around them. Human beings who became so powerful that all other species survive at their mercy. Human beings who have become slaves of the technology created by themselves. Human beings who destroyed the delicate balance of nature for their own whims and fantasies.

Some where between mastering technologies and becoming a super power and just before turning into a slave of those technologies , I guess the Human beings ceased to exist. Now i see people a lot of them. People People Everywhere but not a single Human being in sight. I see people who have turned into the machines that they have built. I see people for whom life is just a routine from waking up to going back to sleep, and the sole purpose of their life is to make more money.

I grew up reading about Men, Men with values, ethics and principles. Men who had the courage to stand up for what is right, Men who have lost everything but never parted with their morale and character. Men of Honour, who were known for their honesty, sincerity and commitment. Men with fire of passion in their hearts and compassion for their fellow human beings. Men who's selfless acts have made difference in the lives of millions . Men with thirst for knowledge. Men who have carried the torch of truth throughout their life and were never bothered by its scorching flames. Men who have achieved pinnacles of excellence in all aspects of life and yet are humble. One may say that those kind of Men exist only in books, but I was lucky enough to meet a couple of such Men. I have always wanted to be one among those Men.

But now i don't see those Men. I see people who are corrupted to the core, People who have gained worldly riches but have lost their character. People who live to earn money, by any means. People who attribute more importance to the buildings, cars they own than the fellow beings. People who are selfish, people who try to take advantage of others miseries, Greedy People, People who are hungry for money, for power. People who are so concerned with their rights that they have forgot their manners. People who have no respect for anything but money.

Amidst the ocean of these people I have been desperately searching for Men, and all i have found are shallow people everywhere. It bothers me most when i see myself as one amongst those people. But my (Hu)Man Hunt will continue......