Were you ever in a spot and someone just appeared to help you out?
One day, when I'd sent my children to school, I noticed that my daughter, then aged seven, had forgotten to take her lunchbox with her. I couldn't bear the thought of her going through a day at school with nothing to eat, so after I'd completed my morning work, I got ready and took the bus to the school. The bus was crowded and it was difficult to find standing room. The day was very hot. Also, I knew I'd have to walk for about ten minutes after getting off the bus. I searched anxiously in my purse for the change to pay for the fare.
The bus conductor stood in front of me, waiting for his fare. As I shifted uncomfortably, looking for the money, the young man's face broke into a smile.
"You're Nitin's mother," he said. I looked at him and remembered a young boy who looked very like him assisting in the van which used to bring my son Nitin, aged about six back then, to school. The young boy had grown up but I looked the same.
He waved away my fare magnanimously.
"No problem, aunty," he said.
He waved goodbye warmly to me as I got off from the bus.
He made my day. He waived my fare of five rupees. It wasn't about money, though. It was the kindness. This young man spared my fare although he was very poor himself (it was obvious by his shabby appearance) because he remembered my son with affection.
I was really touched.
One day, when I'd sent my children to school, I noticed that my daughter, then aged seven, had forgotten to take her lunchbox with her. I couldn't bear the thought of her going through a day at school with nothing to eat, so after I'd completed my morning work, I got ready and took the bus to the school. The bus was crowded and it was difficult to find standing room. The day was very hot. Also, I knew I'd have to walk for about ten minutes after getting off the bus. I searched anxiously in my purse for the change to pay for the fare.
The bus conductor stood in front of me, waiting for his fare. As I shifted uncomfortably, looking for the money, the young man's face broke into a smile.
"You're Nitin's mother," he said. I looked at him and remembered a young boy who looked very like him assisting in the van which used to bring my son Nitin, aged about six back then, to school. The young boy had grown up but I looked the same.
He waved away my fare magnanimously.
"No problem, aunty," he said.
He waved goodbye warmly to me as I got off from the bus.
He made my day. He waived my fare of five rupees. It wasn't about money, though. It was the kindness. This young man spared my fare although he was very poor himself (it was obvious by his shabby appearance) because he remembered my son with affection.
I was really touched.
This is my weekly post for the Loose Blogger Consortium. We are a group of bloggers from different parts of the world with diverse views and styles of writing, and we post simultaneously (well, we try to) on a weekly basis on a given topic. Our members are, in no particular order, Anu, Maria Silverfox, Magpie, Will Knott, Rohit, Noor, Joe, Paul, Akanksha, Delirious, Padmini, Ashok, Conrad, Maria, Grannymar, and Rummuser. This topic 'Random Acts of Kindness' was chosen by Rohit
It would be interesting to hear the monetary value you put on his act of kindness. I'm sure it would be far more than 5 rupees. But of course, the non-monetary value is what matters most.
ReplyDeleteThese acts of kindness are the things that make everything worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteMaggie X
Nuts in May
Being kind makes the giver even happier than the receiver.
ReplyDeletebikehikebabe
That is lovely x
ReplyDeleteI have given you a Friendly Blogger Award - it's over at my place if you'd like to accept it :-)
ReplyDeletedo unto others...if only we all lived by the Golden Rule
ReplyDeleteLovely anecdote!! My bus ride days are left far behind--couldn't get into one because of the crowds. But this has happened to me once or twice as 40 years ago I used to ride an hour up and down in Mumbai where I was teaching in a college.
ReplyDeleteAnd students have come to my rescue!!
Lovely post! I always beleive in one good turn....
ReplyDeleteSorry I am so slow in commenting, I was down in Dublin for a week and away from the computer.
ReplyDeleteA simple act of kindness leaves a very long impression.
Yes - an act worth far more than the face value of the ticket.
ReplyDeletePeople who keep love & affection above any monetary value, they actually live their life....nice post..:)
ReplyDeleteI'm willing to bet that another reason that act of kindness came to you was for the kindness you've shown to others.
ReplyDeleteHello my friend! This is a beautiful story, lifts my spirits to know such kindnesses. Wonderful to hear your publishing successes! Drop me a NaNo message and we'll be in touch... :)))
ReplyDelete"It was about the kindness," People do remember how you make them feel.
ReplyDeleteI hope that the conductor gets to read this post - somehow, somewhere.
This is the best sort of post to read.
ReplyDelete