‘Ask the Horse’

The maddening pace of the horse jolted people on the streets. After all, it bolted through the crowded streets like an animal possessed. Atop the horse was the town bumpkin, who was always the object of derision. Passersby were either petrified at the breakneck speed, both for their safety and the bumpkin’s, or furious at the latter for yet-another nonsensical act. The bumpkin was known for his idiosyncrasies, irking the townsfolk with either his words or acts. However, those were mild compared to the madness he was set upon that day. Whoever rides a horse at that speed in the middle of town! What made it worse was that the bumpkin was neither controlling the speed nor seemed headed anywhere in particular, what with the horse speeding past the same streets time and again.

For everyone, the fear soon turned to exasperation and, finally, extreme anger. After all, pedestrians were tumbling over on the sides of the streets, trying to save themselves from the errant horse.

Unable to stop the horse, people started swearing, but to no avail. Finally, one of them asked the bumpkin, ‘Where are you headed?’ Before the question could be registered by the bumpkin’s mind, the horse was at the end of the street, turning towards another street. However, as the horse slowed a bit at the turn, the bumpkin turned and replied to the man who queried, ‘I don’t know. Ask the horse.’

The townsfolk weren’t perplexed as they shook their heads in exasperation at the stupidity of the answer, which, they realised, should have been expected by them. However, before dismissing it as an absurdity, let’s ponder and ask ourselves: Aren’t we forever traversing through life in such a manner? As a matter of fact, our lives move similar to the fast-moving horse, without us having either control or any clue about what’s happening or where we’re headed.

The horse is representative of all the external forces we rely upon to lead us in life, be it other people’s decisions, peer influences, social expectations, or anything but our heart’s desire. May we comprehend this anomaly and hold the reins tight as we ride the horse of life. After all, the horse must trot towards our destination and not wherever it wishes to lead us.