The Secret of Existence
by
Vahid Zakeri
"Do you want to know the entire secret of existence?"
I said, "What's the price?"
"Are you willing to pay it?"
"I asked for the price. You didn't say."
"No, I don't mean the money you throw in this pot. No one survives after knowing the entire secret of existence."
"Well then, why should anyone know?"
"Death comes for everyone, whether you want it or not! But is it unnecessary for a person to know the entire secret of existence before death?"
"Well, assuming it is. How’s it done?"
"You sit on this chair, and I inject the elixir of the secret of existence into your neck vein."
"If you're so keen on the entire secret of existence yourself, why don't you take this elixir to your neck?"
"If you throw seven coins in this pot, I'll do it."
"Alright." And I tossed seven coins into the pot. From under it, a syringe fell out: the elixir of the secret of existence. She took it and sat on the chair.
I said, "What's the price?"
"Are you willing to pay it?"
"I asked for the price. You didn't say."
"No, I don't mean the money you throw in this pot. No one survives after knowing the entire secret of existence."
"Well then, why should anyone know?"
"Death comes for everyone, whether you want it or not! But is it unnecessary for a person to know the entire secret of existence before death?"
"Well, assuming it is. How’s it done?"
"You sit on this chair, and I inject the elixir of the secret of existence into your neck vein."
"If you're so keen on the entire secret of existence yourself, why don't you take this elixir to your neck?"
"If you throw seven coins in this pot, I'll do it."
"Alright." And I tossed seven coins into the pot. From under it, a syringe fell out: the elixir of the secret of existence. She took it and sat on the chair.