The Lone Builder and the System’s Shadow
In a quiet town nestled between mountains and rivers, lived a man named Rayan. He was neither rich nor poor, neither lost nor found. But he carried a storm within his heart—one that constantly questioned whether a person should live within a system or outside of it.
Rayan had once been part of the system. He had a stable job, a fixed salary, and the comfort of knowing that someone else had built the roof above his head. The system manipulated him, but it also cared for him—on its terms. It gave him food but dictated his hunger. It gave him shelter but confined his wings. He felt like a bird in a golden cage, loved yet restrained.
One day, he stepped out. Not in rebellion, but in search of true independence. He walked away from the safety net and into the unknown, determined to build his own shelter, create his own work, and take his own risks.
At first, it was liberating. He was his own master. The sky was his ceiling, the earth his foundation. But soon, reality whispered harsh truths. Without a system, he had to bear every storm alone. Hunger visited him often. Disappointment became a shadow that never left his side. He realized that when you live outside the system, no hand rests above your head—you must build your own shelter, carry your own burdens, and find your own sustenance.
One cold evening, as he sat by a small fire, a stray dog approached. The dog, too, had no system. It had no master to feed it on time, no roof to shield it from the rain. Rayan watched as it cautiously took a few steps toward him, eyes filled with hunger and uncertainty. Feeling a strange connection, he tossed a small piece of bread. The dog ate and left.
The next day, the dog returned. And the next. And the next. Each time, Rayan shared a little more. A silent bond formed between them. The dog no longer feared him, for it knew that Rayan provided food. The system of the wild had forced the dog into independence, but now, it was slowly getting familiar with Rayan’s hand, understanding that trust could be built even outside a structured system.
And then it struck Rayan—was he, too, slowly being tamed by something invisible?
He realized that absolute independence was as much an illusion as complete dependence. The system may manipulate, but it also nurtures. And if one chooses to step out, one must create a balance—not just survive wildly, but build a new system where others can find shelter too.
He decided not to return to his old life within the system, but neither would he live recklessly outside it. He would craft his own way, a middle path where he had both freedom and responsibility—not just for himself, but for those around him.
From that day forward, he worked not just for himself, but to create opportunities for others. He made sure no one who sought shelter went away empty-handed. He understood that whether inside or outside the system, the true question was not what the system was giving him—but what he was giving to others.
And in that understanding, he found true freedom.
Moral of the Stories:
Balance is Key – Absolute dependence on the system may limit freedom, but complete independence can lead to isolation. The ideal path lies in balancing both.
Freedom Comes with Responsibility – True independence is not just about breaking free but also about creating something meaningful for oneself and others.
By Junaid Masood
