The Unnamed Companion

He left his home, and so he got on his horse. He took a pause for a few seconds; he was thinking about something, and so he embarked on his journey. Behind him, in a small house, his mother was seeing him embarking upon this mission.

“The field commander himself came to my office to assign me this task. This means it is very important, and I have to carry it.” These were his last words to her.

On his way, he noticed that someone was following him. A strange figure on a horse like his. Wearing a black gown and concealing his face. This “unnamed companion” was three to four steps behind him. He was consistently following him. At various points, the messenger interrogated him about his status; where does he belong? Why was he following him? But all his questions were left unanswered by the companion.

When the messenger stopped at a point to get some rest for him and his horse, he analyzed the whole situation. As per his observations, he did not observe him in suspicious activity to halt his journey. The fact that he was carrying a very important and confidential missive was only known to both of them; the commander and him. Who was this person on earth? Following him and putting a thousand doubts about his existence. The messenger did not have time to get into a fuss with that person; as per his observations, arguing with him and indulging in strange interrogation would simply imply that he was on an important mission. This will put his purpose of journey on a vulnerable side. It was better to continue the trip and consider him as a companion who also wanted to go somewhere. “Maybe the next stop would be his destination,” he thought. Therefore, he resumed his journey. The companion also followed him.

At night, the messenger lit a fire and sat near it. He took a piece of meat out of his bag and fried it. After eating, he sat idly; and looked at the sky. All of a sudden, the companion threw a knife towards him. Instantly, the messenger took out his sword and jumped towards his direction. But later, he felt like the knife was not targeted at him but at something behind him. He looked back and saw a snake taking its last breaths. The knife penetrated its head, between its eyes, and its tip came out of the snake’s lower side. The snake was approaching him from the other side, and in the next moment, he would become a victim of this creature’s poison. He reached his position, kicked the snake to the bushes, and sat there. He looked at the companion, to the fire, and to the sky.

The next day, they reached a caravansary. The messenger decided to stop there and have some rest there with food. He was about to move in its direction when the companion took him by the arm and changed his direction. He took him to the other side, which would lead to his destination. The messenger continued his journey without asking anything. As per him, it was better to continue, and the companion implied the same.

On reaching the city, they were greeted by a person in the market. The person claimed to be a confidante of the field commander and testified that the commander informed him about his visit. He proposed to take him to the chief so he could convey the message. The person took them into narrow streets, stating that it was the easiest and the safest way to the headquarters. It was in one of these streets, that the companion took out his sword and beheaded the person. He took the messenger with him, and they went straight to the headquarters.

At the headquarters, the chief greeted him. He narrated the whole story. Someone from the enemy had leaked the news of his arrival from the camp. It was for him that they had set up a fake caravansary. The same one where he was about to head earlier. The caravansary was raided by their army, and they came to know of another person. He would be waiting for him in the city and would fake as the commander’s confidant. This person would kill him to obtain the secret missive. The same one whom the companion beheaded.

After hearing the whole story and thanking God that he had reached safely despite all the hurdles, he looked at the companion. But he was long gone.

When a person embarks upon a journey, the one on which his survival depends. He is not alone(like the messenger). His parents’ blessings, his family’s prayers, and the good deeds he has done in his entire life follow him. The blessings and prayers of his mother followed him (the unnamed companion). They saved him from all the troubles and hurdles on his way (like the events of the snake approaching him, the caravansary, and the fake confidant). Therefore, it is said that whatever good you do comes back to you.