What anger brings.

Once upon a time, there was a young man who became angry with his parents. He had returned late that night, just as he had done on most nights and his parents were angry with him.

He was tired and was so annoyed at being scolded for what was his usual practice. After all, this was not the first time that he returned at midnight. He could not tolerate the harangue by his parents. In a huff, he told them he did not need to stay to listen to their lecture. They were lots of places he could go to.

And in his anger, he did not think of the consequences of his anger. He put his shirt on again and walked out through the door. Soon, he was astride his 100c.c. Yamaha motorcycle roaring down the empty street, the cool wind wiping away the heat of anger from his head.

The hour was late. It was already well past midnight. Where could he go? His friends? Well, all of them must be already snoring in bed. Then, he realized all the doors are closed to him. Where can he go?

Looking at the places his bike took him, he found the only places with some kind of activity were third class hotels with ladies of the night loitering at their door-ways. There was that little temptation to while away some time there. But then, he knew the dangers that await at such places; sickness that could change his whole life forever. He shook off the idea.

But there was no place to stop at. Nowhere could he rest; no place could he have some wholesome fun, happiness or rest. None!

Next, he headed for the esplanade, a lovely place to rest and to watch the waves break onto the rocks below. The breeze would cool his body and relax it. His soul could then be at peace.

A half hour passed. Time just dragged by. There was no one to talk to. It was real lonely. Not even a dog or a cat could be seen. All alone. Alone! It was one of the most lonely moments in his life.

In such a moment, even beautiful natural surroundings are boring as the mind still dwell on the injustice of being deprived of rest in his own bed. Bored with watching the sea and the vast stretch of grass, he moved on. There were other vehicles on the road but none stopped for anything. Every vehicle was moving, each with a destination. For him there was none; no place he could think of to spend the rest of that long night.

The minutes seemed to crawl. Again and again, he looked at his watch to find that time had hardly moved. It was the longest night he had ever known. He loitered here, there and everywhere. The world was so big, yet there was no place he could rest.

At six o’clock, he heard the rumble of carts as hawkers and traders pushed their wares to their places of business. He waited as those hawkers began their day. The ones who sold food started with a fire in their stove and the boiling of soup or some other necessary sauce in their preparation for the new day’s sale. For want of something to do, he watched and waited. For one such hawker, he was her first customer for the day. He took his early breakfast slowly, killing time.

It was a precious lesson for him. It was a suffering he never wanted to have to go through again. Through that experience, he learnt to control his temper. That long night was not worth the temper he had so recklessly shown.

I know how terrible it is; the consequences of anger; for I was that young man in this true story.