“Amogh, learning the art of peace is one thing and actually implementing it is altogether another thing!” Ojh made a valid observation. They were passing through a scenic road alongside the seacoast. It was as if the wavy road and coastal waves were teasingly playing hide and seek, creating scintillating waves of awe among the travelers.

Amogh brought a perspective as a reply to Ojh’s query. “There’s a universal rule to understand and practice any concept: fake it until you make it!” he said, furthering the saying that practice makes a person perfect.

“Now Amogh, where are you leading us to?” Shardul asked on the cue, in one naughty tone.

“I am sure, Amogh, as the person he is, has great philosophy in this steamy stream as well!” Ojh commented, in equally naughty tone.

“Actually, I do. But in a different sense. Actually, peacefulness is equally appealing, and, if not more…in its own way,” Amogh replied in a bold tone. “To be honest, very few people in the world experience real peacefulness,” he said, smiling. Noticing the undertone amongst his companions, Amogh continued, “Mind you, I am speaking of that ultimate level, the interpretation of the experience, how one feels at the end.”

“So, professor, I think, love is outward looking. Peacefulness is inward looking…” Shardul inferred.

“Perhaps, one gives us happiness, other gives us satisfaction. The lucky one who gets both gets that ultimate level of peace, the union of happiness and satisfaction,” Ojh followed suit.

“We are progressing. And how! Shardul is now scaling up from looove to love!” Amogh exclaimed. “You both almost summed it up.”

Shardul and Ojh looked at each other, bit disappointed. “Almost”, they said, almost simultaneously.

“Why ‘almost’, Amogh? What else there is to it?” Shardul asked.

“Well, Shardul, when we met, you spoke about all the lobbying against you, to defuse your confidence. To add to it, that girl who doesn’t really care for you. Further, just recalling that when we met, Shardul, you said you feel isolated. To that, I say, that’s fine. May be, you will find your true love in that isolation!”

“Professor, for the first time I don’t understand you at all. In fact, that angry feeling is again erupting!” Shardul said, rather furiously.

“Hey, cool down, man! You are an angry young man. Truly. Have patience, let professor finish his talk about true love, instead!” Ojh tried to calm Shardul down.

“Yes. So, let me complete. Sometimes isolation is required to get together. Sometimes isolation is required to see that person whom you could truly, unconditionally, simply, love!”

“Professor, you are really testing my patience. Please cut the crap and tell who that would be, whom I truly love,” Shardul almost yelled.

Amogh slowed down the car, and looked sideway, at Shardul. “Shardul, please pull the side mirror a bit towards me, will you? You might also see that person you are searching for...”

Shardul blankly did what was told before realising the profoundness. For a fraction of a second in between, he also saw beyond the mirror only to realise that there was no one there. When he finally saw in the mirror, a smile blossomed on his face. “Do you mean…me, myself?”

“Yes, my dear!” Amogh, exclaimed.

For a few moments, Shardul, while shedding his anger, felt everything around had come to a still. After those precious moments where he realised of having discovered himself, as if returning out of isolation, he hugged Amogh. A few tears had occupied his cheeks. Then he hugged Amogh tightly.

“How dumb have I been! Yes, there was a time when I really loved myself. Thank you, professor, for reminding me of that. And your style of reminding is awesome, professor…you, the greatest professor, the permanent chair of all the virtues you are teaching us: happiness, peace, satisfaction…and now, love. Self-love, to be specific!”

Ojh, who was sitting in the rear, was silent for all this time, gathering the wisdom being shared. “Your idea of feeling isolated is just too good, Amogh. I also could take a leaf out of this idea. My company has isolated me, and this conversation has brought back the real Ojh in me, the one that I want to be, the one that I love!”

“Cool! Well, I have completed my task! And friends, I had said ‘almost’ because, this self-love is inward looking. You can love yourself truly, unconditionally, just…simply.”