One

Harshal: “Hey! How are you, dude?”

Mayur: “I am fine. Nothing much. Routine life. Sleep, wake up, eat, University, home, eat, sleep and the cycle goes on. What about you?”

Harshal: “I am completely bored with these vacations. Waiting for the start of the next sem or any intern call. One intern man! Just one intern….”

Mayur: “True yaar.. Ek intern! Bass. Ek intern ya ek job lag jaye to life set hain yaar!”

This was the conversation between me and my friend Harshal. At present, both of us are on the same boat, looking for interns and jobs. However, looking at the current economic scenario, getting a job is going to be a Herculean task.

As the above conversation ended, thoughts avalanched in my mind about the importance of the number ‘one’ in our life. One phone call with my friend made me to ponder upon so many things. Just as the above conversation ended, I imagined myself working at a very good position in a top technology company in US, earning handsomely. As soon as I imagined myself earning a handsome salary, I planned to go to India sometime. I immediately planned a Konkan bike trip to places which we had missed visiting in 2008 with my college friends. I planned to put all my finance knowledge into practice and explore and reap huge benefits from various investment options in US and in India. I even planned to start an NGO in partnership with those interested to educate poor people (because I want to educate poor children) I saw my NGO’s services being recognized by the PMC. My plans and thoughts just did not see an end. All that I could foresee was one thing happening after the other, until somewhere I came back into the reality. Reality: I still do not have a job in hand and do not know whether I will get one in US or not.

Everyone lives in the same manner in which I lived for those ‘happy’ moments after that ‘One’ call with a friend. Thoughts after thoughts after thoughts and it just didn’t end.  I guess, if Christopher Nolan decides to write a script on thoughts after thoughts after thoughts similar to a dream in a dream in a dream, he may never be able to end it. There, I started thinking about how a positive ‘one’ and the negative ‘one’ can significantly influence a human life, or many lives.

To start on a very basic note, one sperm is more than enough to fertilize an egg and make a woman start feeling like soon to be a mother. She will be the happiest woman on earth only because of that ‘one’ sperm which made her, feel good about herself.  This good news will elate everyone around her and the general mood will be joyous. On the contrary, one malignant cell can lead to life threatening cancer. It will divide so rapidly that by the time you realize the reason for the deterioration of your health, it would have very well caused adequate damage to end your life. So many expectations and desires come to an end with the end of a life. Isn’t it surprising to know that ‘one’ small entity can either start a life by multiplying itself or end a life by dividing itself?

Likewise, there are so many ‘one’ around us that play an influential role in our as well as others’ life. ‘One’ person’s grit to make his nation independent can inspire millions of people to join the freedom struggle. We all know that ‘One’ person’s Facebook post have inspired millions of Egyptians to gather at the Tahrir Square and unite to fight against their dictator.  Now, after dethroning their dictator, the Egyptians are living a happy life. This would not have been possible, but for that ‘one’ post, they are seeing a new life today. Would not anyone want to unite and become 'one' against the numerous evil forces present in our society today? Why would anyone not want to do that? How hard it is to unite? To cite a recent example of the effect of ‘one’: The US was downgraded sometime back from ‘AAA’ to ‘AA+’ credit rating. Stripping off ‘one’ A led to a loss of trillions of dollars around the world markets. God knows how long it will take to recover the lost money, if it is ever possible to repair the damage. But, such is the power of ‘one.’

When we look at our self (not in the mirror), we realize that we have been blessed with a life and our biggest gift is the ability to think and act, thanks to the God’s largesse. Our ‘one’ deed/thought can change many people around us for good, or for bad, which in turn will change others and it will go on and on. The dynamics of it can be very well related to the routine examples which we see around us. It is like a chain reaction. ‘One’ word of hope will give so much strength to a person who is struggling with various problems in his life that he will be always game to accept the challenges; a positive change. Whereas, ‘one’ insulting comment, ‘one’ unexpected failure or ‘one’ failed relationship can even drive a person to commit a suicide; a negative change.

I did not want to write this but I could not help. Mathematically, human life can take up any value in the closed interval -1 to +1 i.e. [-1, +1]. Those who opt for ‘-1’ are similar to that malignant cancer cell which deteriorates your health. Over the period of time, they will lose love and support of people around them. They will hardly see any light of the day. In the end, they will be big failure. Those who opt for ‘0’ will remain where they are. Stagnancy will be an integral part of their life. But, those who opt for ‘+1’ will be doing the best job not only for themselves, but for others as well. They will be inspiring millions to live a good life. They will be at the forefront in spreading joy around them. People have been able to do it and hence, we are seeing some really beautiful things around us. Will anyone not want to choose the right ‘one’ (aspect) and see some good changes around them? Withal, ‘One’ is indeed the numero uno.