The Pensive

Kishan met Raju after a long time apart. He noticed that Raju looked emaciated and anxious.
“What happened to you?” Kishan asked.

“The stress at work is overwhelming,” Raju replied. “Sometimes, I feel so absent-minded that I lack the enthusiasm for my job. The result is that I’ve lost part of my salary. What can I do?”

Raju’s boss was Kishan’s friend, and Kishan spoke with him about Raju’s situation. Raju had been transferred to another office as a manager, which came with a substantial daily allowance. However, it did little to alleviate the stress he felt.

Years later, when Kishan met Raju again, he was surprised to see that Raju still looked emaciated and pensive.
“What’s the matter with you?” Kishan asked, concern etched across his face.
“I haven’t taken a day off in these five years for fear of losing my daily allowance. I am feeling tired, and my health has suffered…” Raju’s words trailed off, reflecting the burden he carried.