As long as you are breathing

Hope vs death

Kalil didn’t talk much with anybody that day. Zahid was as noisy as always, directing the team to do what they need to do to survive, mainly focusing on the collection of foods.

It was almost evening, or at least that is what the environment was trying to imitate. The sunset was very different from planet Earth, mainly because there was no sun. The artificial light from the roof was glowing red instead of white. The sunset felt odd with the size of their shadow left unchanged.

The team was scavenging for fish in a shallow stream of water. Kalil, however, wasn’t paying attention. Enough fishes just went by his legs while the rest of the team struggled to find any.

“I caught one!” exclaimed Sajid. It was a mesmerizing blue color fish.

“Good job,” congratulated Khalid.

“Enjoy your meal. We will join you soon,” said Walid.

“Actually, I think I should have the first bite,” said Zahid.

“Sir, I thought you believed in being an exemplary master who likes to let the students enjoy first and then eat,” said Sajid.

Zahid coughed and continued, “O-of-Of course, I am. But first I need to make sure my disciples are safe. What if the food is poisoned? I can’t risk the lives of my own disciples. So, let me take the first bite.”

Khalid started to cry, “Master, you will do that much….for us?”

“We don’t deserve this master, let us take the first bite and ensure your safety,” Walid added.

“No. I appreciate your…uh… appreciation. But as a true exemplary master, I will have to do risk it,” said Zahid.

Thus, very soon, after frying the fish, Zahid took the first bite expecting great delicacy. But he immediately spitted it out.

“Ewww… It tastes so bitter!” exclaimed Zahid.

“I never knew fish can taste bitter to begin with,” said Khestri.

“No more catching stupid blue fishes,” said Zahid, “Totally ruined my taste buds.”

Khaled burst into tears, “Our master sacrificed his taste buds for the sake of us. There is no way we can be grateful enough to master.”

After a few minutes, they all found healthy silver fishes. They tried to catch that type since they were tasty. Everyone caught two or three of them, except Kalil.

Kalil’s mind was off. Anybody there could notice that. But nobody wanted to bother him either. Until Zahid decided to poke a hole through the shell his childhood friend is covered in. He caught Kalil at the night when everyone was sleeping and Kalil was just sitting beside the stream hearing the splash of the water which would have pleased his ears if he weren’t so depressed.

“That old man was strong. It’s not that pathetic to lose a fight against him,” said Zahid to console him, “You did well enough.”

“Yeah, he is strong alright,” answered Kalil, “But that doesn’t give him the authority to say anything he wants, you know.”

“Huh? Tell me what’s really bothering you,” said Zahid.

“Well, just the fact that he thinks that a fighter should be ready to die,” said Kalil, “How stupid!”

“Whatever you say,” said Zahid oblivious of Kalil’s need for reassurance.

Thus, Kalil asked, “Do you get ready to die before every fight?”

“I sure do,” answered Zahid.

Kalil was shocked by the answer. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

Kalil immediately stood up. “That makes no sense! A fighter’s strength comes from their willingness to live. It is hope that pushes a fighter forwards not the opposite. As long as you are breathing, you are alive and as long as you are alive, you have hope. And as long as you have hope, you can’t back down. That’s how it has always been for me.”

“That’s true. Hope really is necessary for a fighter. But to be prepared to die- what makes you think that it’s the opposite of hope?” asked Zahid.

Kalil replied, “Well that’s cause you aren’t even trying to live.”

“That’s an odd answer,” replied Zahid, “Okay, answer me this then. What’s the opposite of hope?”

“I am not sure. Hopelessness?” answered Kalil.

“Well, fear won’t be too wrong of an answer, would it?” asked Zahid.

“Umm…no,” answered Kalil.

“Well, if one is ready for death, does that make one fearful or fearless?” asked Zahid.

“What do all these get to do with fighting?” asked Kalil.

“I don’t know,” answered Zahid.

“Exactly!” exclaimed Kalil.

“But-” Zahid continued.

“But? Why but?” asked Kalil.

“When I am ready for death, I am ready for anything. I can try taking risky moves. If I am not bold enough, I get too defensive trying to prevent injury, and thus I don’t really have any chance of winning, especially against high-level competitors. The best that could happen is a draw. Otherwise, I am just drawing out the losing battle to be longer,” explained Zahid.

Kalil’s pupil widened at the state of a realization but he flinched his gaze away. “I don’t know. As long as you are breathing, you are alive. As long as you are alive, you have hope. And as long as you have hope you gotta keep on striving.”

“Well whatever floats your boat,” replied Zahid, “I am heading to sleep now. You should too. We might have a long journey tomorrow.”

Kalil didn’t bother replying.

The next day came soon enough. Everyone stretched their bodies hoping the night lasted longer.

“What a lovely day it is, isn’t it?” asked Zahid to Khestri.

“Yes sir!” the three twins answered in unison snatching Khestri’s answer.

Zahid stared back at them deadpanned, “What a responsive disciple I have!”

“We are always happy to please you!” answered the three of them in unison again, completely oblivious of Zahed’s annoyance.

They started walking aimlessly. They took frequent breaks during walking to not tire themselves out before any unexpected attack. Before the artificial light became intense imitating the noon sky, they already found their way into a city.

“Whoa! There’s a city in this place?!” exclaimed Zahid as his eyes widened.