Epilogue (The Journey)

"Illuminated by the sun's incandescent glow, the shadows rendered were diminutive. The equine sentinels completed their encirclement of him, their gaze settling upon a pair of distinct markings adorning his feet."

These markings were the vestiges of a viperine encounter—the bite of a black cobra. A meticulous perusal of the narrative (Blog - The Journey) would elucidate the following triad of pivotal elements towards its denouement:

1. The well remained a disheartening distance away.
2. The mounted figures were rapidly closing the gap.
3. The cobra was conspicuously absent from his immediate trajectory.

Upon the horsemen's arrival, why was he subjected to the venomous incision of the cobra? What implications does this hold?

Driven either by sheer desperation or calculated intent, he veered toward the cobra rather than the sanctuary of the well.

Alternatively,

He reached the grim assessment that he would fail to access the well promptly enough to evade capture, opting instead to direct his path toward the looming cobra.

So what transpired? Was the cobra's bite inadvertent, or did he willfully court the serpent's venomous embrace?

The underlying query remains: What catalyzed this sequence of events?

In the second last paragraph, the' Fear' aroused for the first time in 'The Journey.' The Fear of Failure. The fear casts doubts on your abilities. One of the reasons for the fear was his solitude.

"The worst solitude is to be destitute of sincere friendship."

- Francis Bacon.

And trepidation seized him in its suffocating grip.

"Man often becomes what he believes himself to be.

If I keep saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, I may become incapable of doing it.

On the contrary, if I believe I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it, even if I may not have it initially".

- Mahatma Gandhi

The chasm that separates triumph from defeat is often bridged by fear. Exceptional collaboration can relegate this gnawing dread to distant obscurity. However, in moments of solitude, this fear—specifically, the apprehension of failure—emerges as the most malevolent specter one must confront and vanquish.

Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

- John 14.27 (New Testament)

May fear and dread not conquer me.

- Buddha (Majjhima Nikaya 6.8)