The Day of Judgment Has Arrived - A Short Story:-
There was once a poor old man living with his children in a small house. So poor was he that he could only manage to care for them after undergoing strenuous work. Inspite of their father's struggle to satisfy them, the children were unappreciative. Even though he kept ceaselessly sweating days without end on his farm to earn the money to feed and clothe them, they were not satisfied ... When given food, the greedy children would shout for more... Out of fear, the father would give them more. Whenever he did not, they dashed for the pot and helped themselves to much of what he kept for the next day...
As for clothes, they only cared for the most fashionable ones. Whenever he returned with ordinary and cheap ones, the children would call them 'filthy rags', grab and throw them away. They would then demand more money from him to buy the fashionable ones of their own choice.
The father's health with time broke down and he could not work as hard as before to earn his living. The boys could no longer eat as much as they would like to. They could not get enough even to keep them in good health. No longer were they able to get good clothes to wear. Were now The fanciful clothes of their past desires had now gone far off from their minds.
One day, the brothers were all herded together on a mat, hungry and sad when the youngest of them stood up suddenly and announced, "I have an idea." "Come on out with it, idiot!" the others implored. 'We could go to town and get a job," the young chap said triumphantly, grinning as if he had just discovered the cure for aids.
'Come on now, stupid,' the eldest said. "Is that the brightest idea you can come up with? Can't you see that the way this country has become it is the last thing one should hope for?'
'Well, there is no harm in trying,' he retorted. 'Perhaps we'll strike it lucky.'
'Well,' said the other brother, "we could try something else. People are getting very frustrated these days... So we could easily touch their hearts with something that has appeal and we wouldn't just live, we'd live really well.'
'Good man!' shouted the others excitedly, 'Let's hear it, man. Let's hear it!'
'We'll move out to the farthest part of the country,' he stated, 'and set up ourselves in the church business. We would win many souls who would contribute generously to build our mission'
'Fantastic idea,' they all shouted in great excitement. Fantastic, man! We are going to have lots of money. Soon we will all be millionaires! Oh what a great day that will be for all of us!'
They set out the next day aboard a minibus. They traveled over long stretches of provincial highways. After about five hours' of a tiring journey over rough roads, they arrived at a sparsely populated town. They got out and continued the rest of their journey on foot. After trekking a long way through dense forests, they arrived at a remote Fakai. It was evening in this remote village and people were gathered in the village square.
'Good evening, good people,' they chorused, 'We are men who have been traveling round the country spreading the 'Good News' in an effort to improve your lives and make you happy::' The people embraced them with delight and gave them a joyous welcome.
The next day they started conducting church services in a small clearing in the center of the village. As this continued everyday, many more people in the village got attracted.
Within a few months, a church was built and furnished. The brothers took all the important positions for themselves. The eldest was the Vicar, the next in line was the Curate and the third the Lay reader. The youngest, being under age, was made cleaner. The church now was fully established in the community, with more and more people flocking to it. The brothers, who had come to the town looking lean and worn out, were now plump and dignified-looking. The village was at that time left at the mercy of a well-organized band of thieves. Attempts to curb their activities brought no results. No one felt safe enough to sleep at night. People stayed awake as if on watch. The slightest sound gave rise to a sense of fear and helplessness.
A meeting was called at the village square. Many of the villagers gathered in no time because of the urgency and seriousness of the matter. They discussed the bad things going on in the village. The high point of the assembly was an address by an old woman.
'Things have gone down the gutter. The good things of the past are no more. People are now behaving like jungle beasts. Long gone are the days when the elders were respected. People are selfish now, with no consideration for others... Evil doing has become a sport; everyone is playing it with the utmost glee. People, to destroy each other they use all sorts of means. Everyone wants power and riches, and they are not afraid to do anything in their rush to get them."
"Stealing is no longer the serious crime it once was. . .Big thieves prosper and fatten on us, while we go on suffering. But let them not feel that they are getting their way, for they are certainly not! For God is watching us from above and taking note of all our evil ways. Yes, he is taking stock of all your sinful acts. As God is counting, so will Satan be COUNTING. Moreover, on the DAY OF JUDGMENT, both of them, standing on opposite sides will be picking out those who have made themselves fit to go with either of them. Satan will set his group on one side and God will have his on the other. Now is your time to repent and take sides with God before events overtake you...'
The brothers flashed knowing glances at each other. The meeting then continued. After every operation, the thieves reassembled at the backyard of the church to share out their loot. On Saturday morning, they returned there with a bulky booty. Towards dawn, the cleaner came out to throw away some dirty water. He threw it into the gutter and was retracing his steps indoors when he was struck by voices emanating from the very backyard he was retreating from. He stopped and listened carefully. He heard it only too clearly .now:
"You one, you one, you one, me one, . You one, you one, you one, me one ... " As he turned to go, the voices erupted again.
"You one, you one, you one, me one .
You one, you one, you one, me one ... "
His mind went back to the words of the old woman at the meeting: He knew at once that it was Satan and God talking.
'Eeeehhh! , .. Luud a' mercy oh!' he exclaimed as the realization dawned on him. 'So soon? She knew it was coming so soon; yet she did not warn us to prepare? What should I do now? Oh ya, it's too late! The DAY of JUDGMENT is now here! ... Oh Father! ... Oh Father-God help me! Help me, God!" he cried, throwing his head up and down in deep supplication.
Meanwhile, the thieves continued sharing out their loot in the corner. Remembering some items dropped on the path, one asked, 'What about the ones on the path? Who's going to have them?'
.
The cleaner was shocked. His head was whirling. and spinning in pain. His heart kept beating hard and insistently against his chest, as if struggling to burst free from there. He was certain his time had come.
.
'Where are the ones on the path? I've not seen them yet!' The voices struck him closer than before. His whole frame was now set in violent vibrations. His heart was palpitating at a death-inducing rate. His brain was spinning within his head. Nothing seemed to belong to him any more. It was as if he was floating in mid-air. His feet involuntarily started running away with him, whilst he kept pleading loudly, 'Oh God, have mercy, I beg I beg you please have mercy, oh God, I beg you!' His loud cries brought his brothers out to see what was happening. They were shocked when they saw their brother in such a state. They ran towards him, asking him what the matter was.
"The day of Judgment has come! I saw God and Satan choosing who should go with them."
They could not wait for more. They followed their younger brother until they arrived at a distant forest where they camped and began praying fervently. Since then they have remained there praying and waiting for God to come for them. They are still waiting.
As for clothes, they only cared for the most fashionable ones. Whenever he returned with ordinary and cheap ones, the children would call them 'filthy rags', grab and throw them away. They would then demand more money from him to buy the fashionable ones of their own choice.
The father's health with time broke down and he could not work as hard as before to earn his living. The boys could no longer eat as much as they would like to. They could not get enough even to keep them in good health. No longer were they able to get good clothes to wear. Were now The fanciful clothes of their past desires had now gone far off from their minds.
One day, the brothers were all herded together on a mat, hungry and sad when the youngest of them stood up suddenly and announced, "I have an idea." "Come on out with it, idiot!" the others implored. 'We could go to town and get a job," the young chap said triumphantly, grinning as if he had just discovered the cure for aids.
'Come on now, stupid,' the eldest said. "Is that the brightest idea you can come up with? Can't you see that the way this country has become it is the last thing one should hope for?'
'Well, there is no harm in trying,' he retorted. 'Perhaps we'll strike it lucky.'
'Well,' said the other brother, "we could try something else. People are getting very frustrated these days... So we could easily touch their hearts with something that has appeal and we wouldn't just live, we'd live really well.'
'Good man!' shouted the others excitedly, 'Let's hear it, man. Let's hear it!'
'We'll move out to the farthest part of the country,' he stated, 'and set up ourselves in the church business. We would win many souls who would contribute generously to build our mission'
'Fantastic idea,' they all shouted in great excitement. Fantastic, man! We are going to have lots of money. Soon we will all be millionaires! Oh what a great day that will be for all of us!'
They set out the next day aboard a minibus. They traveled over long stretches of provincial highways. After about five hours' of a tiring journey over rough roads, they arrived at a sparsely populated town. They got out and continued the rest of their journey on foot. After trekking a long way through dense forests, they arrived at a remote Fakai. It was evening in this remote village and people were gathered in the village square.
'Good evening, good people,' they chorused, 'We are men who have been traveling round the country spreading the 'Good News' in an effort to improve your lives and make you happy::' The people embraced them with delight and gave them a joyous welcome.
The next day they started conducting church services in a small clearing in the center of the village. As this continued everyday, many more people in the village got attracted.
Within a few months, a church was built and furnished. The brothers took all the important positions for themselves. The eldest was the Vicar, the next in line was the Curate and the third the Lay reader. The youngest, being under age, was made cleaner. The church now was fully established in the community, with more and more people flocking to it. The brothers, who had come to the town looking lean and worn out, were now plump and dignified-looking. The village was at that time left at the mercy of a well-organized band of thieves. Attempts to curb their activities brought no results. No one felt safe enough to sleep at night. People stayed awake as if on watch. The slightest sound gave rise to a sense of fear and helplessness.
A meeting was called at the village square. Many of the villagers gathered in no time because of the urgency and seriousness of the matter. They discussed the bad things going on in the village. The high point of the assembly was an address by an old woman.
'Things have gone down the gutter. The good things of the past are no more. People are now behaving like jungle beasts. Long gone are the days when the elders were respected. People are selfish now, with no consideration for others... Evil doing has become a sport; everyone is playing it with the utmost glee. People, to destroy each other they use all sorts of means. Everyone wants power and riches, and they are not afraid to do anything in their rush to get them."
"Stealing is no longer the serious crime it once was. . .Big thieves prosper and fatten on us, while we go on suffering. But let them not feel that they are getting their way, for they are certainly not! For God is watching us from above and taking note of all our evil ways. Yes, he is taking stock of all your sinful acts. As God is counting, so will Satan be COUNTING. Moreover, on the DAY OF JUDGMENT, both of them, standing on opposite sides will be picking out those who have made themselves fit to go with either of them. Satan will set his group on one side and God will have his on the other. Now is your time to repent and take sides with God before events overtake you...'
The brothers flashed knowing glances at each other. The meeting then continued. After every operation, the thieves reassembled at the backyard of the church to share out their loot. On Saturday morning, they returned there with a bulky booty. Towards dawn, the cleaner came out to throw away some dirty water. He threw it into the gutter and was retracing his steps indoors when he was struck by voices emanating from the very backyard he was retreating from. He stopped and listened carefully. He heard it only too clearly .now:
"You one, you one, you one, me one, . You one, you one, you one, me one ... " As he turned to go, the voices erupted again.
"You one, you one, you one, me one .
You one, you one, you one, me one ... "
His mind went back to the words of the old woman at the meeting: He knew at once that it was Satan and God talking.
'Eeeehhh! , .. Luud a' mercy oh!' he exclaimed as the realization dawned on him. 'So soon? She knew it was coming so soon; yet she did not warn us to prepare? What should I do now? Oh ya, it's too late! The DAY of JUDGMENT is now here! ... Oh Father! ... Oh Father-God help me! Help me, God!" he cried, throwing his head up and down in deep supplication.
Meanwhile, the thieves continued sharing out their loot in the corner. Remembering some items dropped on the path, one asked, 'What about the ones on the path? Who's going to have them?'
.
The cleaner was shocked. His head was whirling. and spinning in pain. His heart kept beating hard and insistently against his chest, as if struggling to burst free from there. He was certain his time had come.
.
'Where are the ones on the path? I've not seen them yet!' The voices struck him closer than before. His whole frame was now set in violent vibrations. His heart was palpitating at a death-inducing rate. His brain was spinning within his head. Nothing seemed to belong to him any more. It was as if he was floating in mid-air. His feet involuntarily started running away with him, whilst he kept pleading loudly, 'Oh God, have mercy, I beg I beg you please have mercy, oh God, I beg you!' His loud cries brought his brothers out to see what was happening. They were shocked when they saw their brother in such a state. They ran towards him, asking him what the matter was.
"The day of Judgment has come! I saw God and Satan choosing who should go with them."
They could not wait for more. They followed their younger brother until they arrived at a distant forest where they camped and began praying fervently. Since then they have remained there praying and waiting for God to come for them. They are still waiting.
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