There is an old saying that ‘empty vessels make a lot of noise’. But not every empty vessel makes noise, some are good in keeping secrets too.
I had two unique friends. One, who spoke a lot and would often end up saying – “Just keep everything that I said to yourself.” And another friend, who has been with me silently throughout and decides not to speak, unless he is forced to speak. He could sit quietly for long hours and without uttering even a single word. His silence sometimes irritated me as well.
But, with my talkative friend, I always had this fear of spilling the beans anytime. Particularly, when you tell him to shut his mouth, and not to speak a word to anyone about an incident. But ironically, I would soon get the narrative of the incident by an anonymous, with a lot of distorted facts. I always looked at him like a completely filled vessel, that is full of information and gossips, and ready to spill any time.
But one incident made me believe in my silent vessel – my other friend, as someone, who could be excellent in keeping secrets.
Three of us were driving on a highway, coming back from a meeting when we met with an accident. A Blue bull had suddenly come on the highway and my car was hit. The accident was minor only as only the car bonnet had got dented.
I told both of them to remain silent and do not talk to anyone about it, either in office or at my home. I was serious and my voice meant all the meanings and indicated repercussions.
While my silent friend didn’t even bother to nod his head, my other friend started asking me questions – what “if” someone asks?
His “What if” became my worst fear. What “if” he speaks? What “if” he spills the beans and narrates the accident in most dramatic manner? What “if” he decides not to remain silent?
What “if” I throw him on the highway without any money and take his mobile also?
We reached office in sometime and the first thing that my talkative friend uttered was to the security officer – “See don’t allow anyone to see this car, it just met with an accident. We are all safe. Though it is minor accident but still don’t talk about it to anyone. Pavan is getting the car repaired.”
Before I could park my car and reach my cabin, the security officer had already told few more people about the incident and some of the gossip mongers had already assembled in my cabin.
Not just that – inside the gent’s toilet, my talkative friend was narrating the incident dramatically to a different set of people. He only became silent once his vessel had emptied, and the people had started leaving.
Some people also went to see my damaged car. Some even took selfie. Some even questioned my driving skills, and spoke about how careless and absent minded I am when I am driving on the highway.
On the other side, my silent friend kept his attitude of remaining silent. No one approached him and no one asked him anything. They all knew that he won’t even talk, so why to even ask.
True – Why give impression of knowing a lot and yet not tell. Rather, be seen as knowing nothing so nothing to spill as well.
Most of the people, who may be knowing a lot of secrets, pretend and also demonstrate to be amongst the few, since they are close to the management. They would talk openly of knowing a lot of confidential information, but would insist on not asking them – “I know everything but I can’t talk. I have been asked to keep my mouth shut and not to speak. So please do not ask me anything”. Most of such people start spilling information over a cup of tea with some refreshment in their cabin.
Ironically, every secret document has a photocopy and is also available on different mails, marked in the subject line as ‘top-secret document’.
But my silent friend taught me one good lesson – Secrets need to be shared with only those vessels (people) who are empty and can store your information. Already filled vessels (people) tend to spill any information that is shared additionally. Obviously, because they do not have space left to keep any additional information. They want to be recognized as an ‘origin’ of secret and confidential information.
I now prefer taking my silent friend only on the long drives, though he is quite boring too.
On the other hand, I carry my talkative friend as well as he keeps narrating so many gossips and distorted secrets, which certainly I want to hear, knowing that most of them are for entertainment only, and he keeps me smiling too.