Luck..!

On a dark night amidst thunderstorm and heavy rains, a group of 20 people stood shivering under a huge tree just outside a village to protect themselves from the rain and frequent lightening. The lightening was so fierce that during the momentary flashes, each one of them could see the fear writ large on other’s faces. They were worried that the lightening could fall any moment on the tree and all of them would instantly die. There was no immediate escape from this emergency situation. All they could do was to pray god and hope for the rain and thunder to subside, which would enable them to move to safer places in the village. However, the situation seemed to be getting worse every minute.

Under severe adverse conditions the mind goes numb and people start relying only on prayers. They try recollecting the blessings earned by them over the years. Soon, they started talking about how lucky was everyone in the group. Someone added that such situations were created by the God to punish the sinners. They concluded that the most unlucky among them would die today. But the question was how to identify that unluckiest one? And if he were to die, why others should die with him, for the lightening does not differentiate between the lucky and the unlucky.

So, they all decided that in order to separate the lucky ones from the unlucky one, each one of them would walk to another big tree some 200 yards away. Thus, it would be easier for god to strike the lightening on the other tree, as soon as the unlucky one gets under that. That was the only way, they all agreed, to ensure that the innocent does not get punished. They were very reluctant at this idea, but had no better option, because this proposal gave them at least some hope than the status quo.

After much hesitation, one of them bravely started walking across to the other tree. He reached there, stood under it for 2 minutes, giving the god enough chance to punish him for all his sins. Nothing happened. He slowly walked back. There was a spring in his steps while walking back, as it was almost certified that he was not the unluckiest one, who had to die that day. He returned to the group victoriously and had a faint smile too on his face at the relief granted to him by the nature.

The second one went and came back.. then the third one.. and soon 19 were finished. They all came back safely unhurt. Nothing happened to any one of them. The last one was terrified. He was very reluctant to walk across. However, under the mounting pressure of the group, he took his first step towards the other tree. With every step, his heart was thumping harder. He was seeing death in front of him, just few steps away. However, he had no choice. His prayers were continuing subconsciously hoping that his some stray blessings would rescue him today. Finally he reached under the tree. The 19 people were waiting holding their breath to see the unfortunate spectacle of seeing a person die in lightening under a tree.

And.. the lightning struck followed by a huge thunder… All of them knew this was the moment..

And the ‘unlucky’ person under the other tree… could not believe that the lightening had struck the first tree killing instantly 19 people under it.