Walnuts can be good for the heart also

It is believed that walnuts are good for the brain and the image of a walnut kernel resembles the outer surface of the human brain as well.

But a couple of weeks back, I had a beautiful experience where half a kernel of walnut became the medium that endearingly connected two hearts between two men who could have been as different from each other as possible in terms of age, ethnicity, mother tongue, profession and personality types though bound by a common trait of avoiding publicity.

I cannot share many details given the promise I made him but I would nevertheless like to share the story here.

A newly made friend had just invited me home to meet with her husband and at the rendezvous point she requested me to wait for her car which was to be delivered there any moment after its service while she wanted to make a quick dash across the old bus station of that town to grab some groceries.

She wanted someone to be there to receive the car when it was to be delivered.

She handed me the keys and dashed off to get the groceries.

As I stood there, soaking in the warm sights that cold winter evening; the old bearded gentleman in the shop behind me said: “Can I offer you a stool to sit?”

I turned around and politely refused as I wanted to stand and look around.

But the gentle, smiling sincerity on his face evoked a smile on my face too.

A few seconds later he asked me if he could give me some Baadam?

Feeling full in my stomach, I politely refused.

He then asked me if he could offer me cashew nuts.

Once again I refused politely and told him my reason.

He was beside himself now and wondered aloud: “It’s the first time you’ve come to my shop and I am not able to offer you anything.”

At least have this half a kernel of walnut, he said.

This time I could not refuse.

He went back to weighing and packing melon seeds in a plastic cover as I ate the walnut, turned around and continued soaking in the dying lights of the day as it reflected off the adjacent government building with a beautiful sloping green metal sheet roof.

Realising that he wasn’t trying to push me into buying things from him, I turned around and asked him a few questions.

At the end of it all I told him that among other things, I write stories and asked him if I could take his photograph as well to go with my story.

What he said thereafter is what finalised my decision to go ahead and write his extra ordinary story.

This time, it was his turn to politely refuse my request for his photograph.

At a time where we live with the belief: ‘Kuchh bhi kar aur Facebook par daal”, here was one pleasant mannered elderly salesman of dry fruits who was refusing to be photographed for my story.

At a time where individuals and corporations alike are all agog with image and brand building and spend money like water, here was one pleasant mannered elderly salesman of dry fruits who was refusing to be photographed for my story.

At a time where each like for our post on social media triggers the addictive release of dopamine in our brain, here was one pleasant mannered elderly salesman of dry fruits who was refusing to be photographed for my story.

On enquiring he told me of the reason:

“If you publish my story with my name and photograph, it will then be politicized here.

I will be accused of trying to gain undue mileage and publicity.

And you know how it is with being a Kashmiri and a Muslim. I would rather go on with my job quietly.”

Much as the ridiculousness of the situation dawned on me, I could not but admire him.

And with that he went back to packing melon seeds.

A little later, as his son came into the shack of his shop he got up and excused himself by saying that it was time for him to go for his evening prayers in the nearby mosque.

We shook hands and he parted with a prayer to the god he believed in for an atheist like me.

I didn’t think it necessary to puncture him with my non-belief in any religion or any religious man-made gods.

I let him be and let him go.

I then went on with my friend to her house where I had a great time discovering synergies with her husband.

There is quite a profound image you will find on Google images of two circles drawn on a blackboard that talk our comfort zone and where magic happens. And that’s what I experienced when I had accepted the invitation of that newly formed friend.

My interaction with the dry fruit seller was the first of those magical experiences, continuing into the next day and thereafter.

But for that magic to happen, two strangers had to open up. In their own ways, it was risky for both to make the first move.

But thankfully for the still relatively shy and reserved me, he made the first move with the risk of being rejected, scorned and judged.

I am glad he did.

He left me with a simple but profound heart expanding experience that year end of 2018 that I will always remember.

The next day as my bus had to pass through that town towards my destination, I was hoping that the bus would stop for at least a few minutes near that dry fruit seller and I would have the opportunity of saying bye to him.

Even as the shy self of me was hesitant in asking the driver if he would stop the bus there for a few minutes, it actually did stop for 5 minutes. And as soon as the conductor made the announcement, I dashed off the bus to meet the dry fruit seller and offered him a hug.

Surprised at seeing me that late dusk and surprised further at my offer, he got out of his shop and reciprocated.

As we hugged warmly and tightly, my New Year’s Eve party was already complete even as the town was beginning to get into the groove of the party.

As I sat down to finally capture the story for posterity, I once again remembered the question that came up in mind while I was waiting for my new friend at that old bus station:

Was the dry fruit seller a good salesman or was he a better human being?

I will go with the latter.

The eyes cannot lie.

Sohum

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