We receive pain even from unexpected sources—don’t we? It is not right to seek revenge for every pain. If someone who caused inexplicable pain believes that nothing will happen to them, they are mistaken. The one who has been hurt needlessly will receive compensation, and the one who intentionally caused pain will also receive their due return.

We do not truly know in what form or when a reward or punishment will strike. Those who are being arrogant are often given more opportunities to display their pride, while the one being hurt is granted the strength of patience. Consequences (karma) are never silent or inactive—they arrive. They come at unexpected times to either shatter decorated dreams or transform a chaotic life into a garden of peace.

Falling apart does not necessarily mean losing. The struggle to bounce back after being hurt is what truly makes a person stand tall. Even a tree devastated by a storm one day blooms again, providing shade and fruit. If someone continues to hurt you needlessly, cheat you, or make you shed tears—be patient.

The fruit of patience will one day return with sweetness. Your soul will be satisfied in such a way that you will find yourself in the courtyard of happiness. Neither position nor fame, wealth nor power can guarantee peace. However much you are unjustly harmed, you will eventually gain at least that much in return. But the profit margin never stays equal to the loss—it increases manifold.

If you cannot confront those who commit injustice, remain silent. A sigh originating from the depths of the heart will never go in vain. The person who has ruined your mood, stolen your sleep at night, or caused you unfair harm has actually deceived themselves. The deceiver is ultimately the most deceived. Whether by silencing you with words, overpowering you with strength, or shifting blame—these acts only create a debt toward you.

You do not lose when someone disrespects you, humiliates you, or spreads lies and slander. From an external perspective, they may feel they have subdued you, but in the end, you will return with such honesty and strength that the very foundation of their injustice will be shaken. Truth may be stalled, but it never stops.

When someone speaks ill of you, spreads rumors or slander, takes away your rights, or cheats you with a smile—smile back in your mind. This will ultimately result in your well-being. What you could not have achieved even through rigorous effort, your enemies are working hard to bring to your destiny.

Those who scrutinize you every day are actually purifying you. Learning to digest unwanted words, maintaining composure in embarrassing situations, or keeping a smiling face while looking at the enemy—these are the signs of your victory. Those who came to overpower you have, in fact, already lost.

Maintain your personality. Be strengthened by self-respect, not ego. Never reach out for anything that is acquired through illegal means. Cultivate a taste for being content with little.

One day, the arrogant, the defiant, and the sources of unethical power will be humbled before you. In this regard, patience can be your remedy. If someone hurts you, praise them with a smile—it will leave them inconsolable in their own self-reproach. The more weakness you show, the more they will exploit you with feigned flattery. Carry yourself in such a way that they remain in awe.

Your honesty will signal your brilliance. If you sell yourself for pennies, you will be lost forever. Of course, in some cases, the preparation for defeat is the pillar of eventual victory. Let everyone cheat you if they must—but ensure that you are never the cause of someone else being cheated. I caution you.

— Raju Ahmed, Essayist
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