All Good News

Perhaps, this was the unique interview you have ever seen for a high profile job. Five judges were sitting to cross-question the candidates. All are legends in their own field. One side of the semicircular table where the judges were sitting, a huge television was installed on the wall, so that everybody including the candidates could see the TV.

The candidates were called one by one and the questions via the pictures on the TV were asked. The judges, after analysing the answers given by the candidate, rendered their verdict. The pictures selected for the questions were absolutely in new formate, new style and exceptional from the normal interview questions. God knows, why that style was adopted!!!

A long queue was waiting for the interview. All were excited! As time moved, the queue became shorter and shorter. Last three persons were left to face their luck!

The first among the three was called by the attendant. He prayed God silently and entered the room.

'Hi Young man! Please be seated!' the first among the judges said.

'Thank you all, sir!,' he said and took his seat.'

'Look, we are not going to ask you any question from the academic career. It is something different. Are you ready?' asked one of the judges.

'Yes, sir. I am ready. As you wish, you can ask me,' replied the young man soberly with confidence.

'Well! Look at the picture and say some thing about it,' said the first judge of the row.

The young man stated his observation: 'On the road side, two trees are focused upon to give some message, I guess. One is full of fruits because of which it's branches are lowered down. It indicates the message that it's ready to spare its fruits for the benefit of people, while the other tree stands straight without bearing any fruit. Similarly, we can conclude that the person who is full of knowledge and wisdom is always humble, polite and generous while devoid of such knowledge makes a person proud and arrogant.'

'Hum..' one of the judges nodded his head.

'Well! Here is the second picture and give your statement,' said the second judge.

The picture was a bifurcated road. One road was peaceful, clean stretched a distance having trees on both the sides while the other road led to a crowded area having market, buildings etc. A man was standing on the centre of the bifurcation and he was on a thoughtful posture as if he was in dilemma which road to follow.

The young man observed the picture a while then said, 'The man on the centre has two options. Either he has to follow a peaceful life leading towards stretched lonely road or he has to opt for the second one to prove himself that life itself is a challenge and struggling with difficulties also he can attain the peace of mind. So, in my opinion, he should follow the clumsy road and compete with problems which would prove his competency while the other one, there is no one to compete or challenge except some natural disaster to face which is unpredictable.'

'OK..go ahead! Look at the third picture,' said the next judge with a smile.

It was a picture of a giant wheel fully occupied with people who were extremely excited. The expression on their faces were point to be noted. Some were very happy, some were screaming out of fear, some were waiting for the thrilling moment. Everybody's facial expressions was unique in its own way!

'So, young man! What do you think about this?' in a little satirically the third judge asked.

The young man chuckled and said, 'Well! Life itself is like a giant while. Sometimes up and sometimes down and it never goes in a steady motion. Thrilling, happiness, fear, all are phases of life which would overcome all the feelings at the end of the game. A man goes through all these phases to complete its life tenure!'

'Oh! It seems your arguments are matching with the pictures! Are you becoming too philosophical or realistic?' asked the third judge chuckling.

'No, sir, not philosophy but I just connected the pictures to the real life incidence. That's it. Oh, yes! I do remember Chanakya's Niti Slokah where the two trees description have explained,' the young man spoke honestly.

'OK! Look at the fourth picture and describe it,' said the fourth judge.

The young man stared at the TV screen to have the forthcoming picture.

A big tree having few branches without any leaf but thin network of branches in the root was shown in the whole picture, nothing else.

The young man cleared his throat, then said, 'Well! What I know from my little knowledge about Bhagvat Gita is that a human body is just like an 'up side down tree' where the network of root is compared with the human brain and the branches are compared with the parts of the body. Hopefully, every description depends upon the perception of the observer.'

All the judges gestured at each other. With a broad smile on the face, the fifth and last judge pronounced mischievously, 'Ok, Ok! Now meet the last and final question. Kindly, have a look at the picture.'

It was a picture showing of three main building. First one is a hospital, second: a police station and the third one is the picture of a court building.

The fifth judge said, 'Gentleman! This one is your last picture to observe and say something about it. What do you think about it?'

The young man looked at it, cleared his throat then said, 'It indicates that one should be very careful while leading his life.

These are the three things one should remember:

Never do anything by which you would be questioned by the police.

Try your best not to do anything by which you have to go to a lawyer.

Take care of your health, so that hospital would not be required.

Well, these are the three advices given to me by my elders. But, I think everything is not under our control. 'To err is human, to forgive is divine' is truly an amazing proverb said by Alexander Pope. So these three buildings can be required when time demands. That's what I feel.'

After the end of the interview only one word announced by all the five judges 'Congratulations'!!!