Page 189 - The Book of Rumi

Guest on a Rainy Night

t was a rainy night, and a traveler found himself stranded in an unfamiliar
Ineighborhood. He had walked all day and was exhausted, hardly able to
focus, yet he suddenly realized that the door in front of him looked familiar.
He approached the house apprehensively and knocked gently, hoping that he
was not mistaken. When an old friend indeed opened the door and invited
him in warmly, his relief knew no bounds.
That evening down the street, the neighbors were having a circumcision
party for their youngest son, and the owner of the house and his wife had
been invited. Quietly, the couple decided between themselves that the husband
should stay behind and catch up with his friend while she would go to the
party. They also agreed that she should prepare the friend’s bedding well apart
from their own bedroom. The wife left the two men chatting away, reminisc-
ing about the past as they sipped tea.
It was nearly midnight when the guest thanked his hospitable friend
and went directly to the couple’s bedroom, crept underneath the covers, and
instantly fell asleep. The host, much too exhausted and far too embarrassed
to wake his friend and tell him to change beds, snuck to the bed intended for
their guest and also fell asleep immediately.
Not long past midnight, the wife returned from the party all jovial and
excited. She quickly undressed and writhed her way underneath the covers next
to the man she thought was her husband. She caressed and kissed him a few
times and whispered in his ear: “My darling, I was so anxious that because of
this horrid rain that seemed to never end, we’d be stuck with this man all night
without a moment’s peace.”
The guest, now suddenly wide awake, heard her unkind words and, not
losing another minute, sprang out of the bed furiously. “I have sturdy shoes
and don’t fear the rain or the mud!” he exclaimed. “I’m out of here! You keep
your precious home for yourselves. A soul never rests while traveling!”
As he headed toward the door, the woman, feeling ashamed, grabbed
for his legs and begged him to stay, hoping that he would change his mind
and not leave her home with such animosity. But to no avail; it was too late

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