I went to visit Mehboob sahib first thing in the morning to record a missed verse of the script. We sat down and recorded those bits and as always, I enjoyed the conversations we had during the process. He is very busy, but like other friends here, when he sits down to help me, he does so with a lot of thought and care.He told me another interesting story after I had finished packing my things. The story went that there was a man who spent his life searching for a paaras (stone that turns anything to gold) that he might live well and enjoy life. Eventually he found it, but by then his beard was white, he had few teeth left, his physical beauty was long gone and his life was all but over. He thought, what good is it now, that I can not even take advantage of it.A thought occurred to him. Though his time was almost up, he could find a young man, fit and beautiful in youth. Through this youth, his dreams could live one and be fulfilled. So the old man sought out a young man to bestow the gift of his life’s work upon. He told the young man, that I wish to give you a gift with which all your days will be joyous and you will live in splendor.They stood at the edge of the sea, beautiful waves upon the shore. The young man took the tiny stone in his hand. He held it close to his face, then turned his hand every which way to examine it. The old man shifted nervously with each tilt of the young man’s hand.“What are you doing?” he exclaimed.“I want to see what is so special about this tiny stone to grant so much?” the young man replied.“It will turn all that it touches to gold,” explained the old man.The young man twisted and turned the stone in his hand a bit more, then lifted his arm up and tossed the paaras into the sea. The old man was beside himself.“What have you done?!”The young man explained that the stone could be stolen or lost at any moment, just as it had fallen in the sea just then. He would live all his life with the worry that it could be taken from him at any time. Thus it was better to be rid of it now. He then scooped up a handful of sand and placed his other hand over it. He wiped the top hand over the sand and in his palm there was gold.Why spend your life looking for a stone to turn things to gold, when you can put your efforts into turning all that you touch into gold instead? This story followed a question Mehboob sahib had asked regarding my plans after this work was complete. I explained that I would go back home to my family and look for a job. He asked if it was easy to find one and I mentioned very briefly some of the tax subsidy issues which have devalued my work and made it more difficult to get work in my profession of animation. However, I had decided that I would try to find other ways to earn, rather than to chase a sinking ship. Projects like “Risalo” are a risk in terms of finances, as it is more difficult to find employment right now. However, if I don’t bother to do things I care about, and simply live life chasing jobs, then what use is this gift of life?To this Mehboob sahib had started to share how his father had been asked if he earned from teaching Shah Latif’s poetry to people. Though he did not receive money for it, he certainly did earn. For did he not manage to provide for his family, to be fed, housed and educated? He impressed upon me the fact that though not all endeavors lead to earning financially, we certainly to gain from them, indeed even receiving sustenance.In the evening it rained. What an incredible blessing. I was sitting at my computer, working when I felt a cool draft of air as if I were in an air conditioned room, which it has been a while since i have been in one of those. I looked outside and it was raining. In this heat, it was much appreciated. I felt a sense of joy and relief.I hung out a bit with Naveed at the corner store and took a few photos of his shop as well. It is just by the hostel gate, and is a great convenience, as all the other shops are a bit of a trek across the highway.