It was a very hot afternoon of the mid-summer. A 46-year-old, thin and average heighted, Rajesh was sweating on his rickshaw (tricycle) in the wait of a customer. Due to the high temperature, rarely anyone was visible on the streets. And whoever was out, preferred the automobile over a manual rickshaw.
Being the sole financial provider for the family, he was desperate for customers, not just for one day, but every day. He would take rounds of the area in the scorching heat in search of passengers. Someday he would succeed, but most of the days, it just was a tiring and unfruitful task.
Lost in his tensions and smoking his mini-cigar (called beedi in Hindi) he spotted two girls walking towards him from the gate of a society complex. They asked him if he was willing to go to their destination. It was probably a good day for him, because the destination was far, which meant more money for him. He instantly agreed not only for the destination but also to the slightly lower price, compared to the hard work, the girls were offering - Rs 100. But, for him, every penny counted.
The girls took their seats on the rickshaw. After pedaling for almost an hour and completely draining himself out, Rajesh reached the destination. Girls gave him his hard earned money - Rs 100. He became so happy and blessed the two girls "May God bless you, little angels"
His kindness touched the heart of the girls. They felt respect for him in their hearts. One of the girls asked the rickshaw puller "Sir, would you be around the area after 4 hours from now? After our class gets over, we will again need a rickshaw to go back to our home. Would you be able to drop us back as well?"
Filled with the happiness of a confirmed earning, Rajesh instantly asked them the time by which they wanted him to be here.
It indeed was a good day for him. Being the education center of the town, this area gave him many earning opportunities. The 4 hours were the busiest he had had in months. He pedaled tirelessly, dropping one passenger after the other.
After 4 hours, he reached the institution to pick up the two girls. He reached early, girls hadn't come out yet. After waiting for 15 minutes, he saw the girls coming. He waved at them. Girls also became happy on seeing their rickshaw puller waiting for them because it saved them the effort of finding one.
He dropped them back to their homes. He had a good earning day today. But not only this, girls asked him if he could pick and drop them every other day for three days of the week.
He left for home happy.
Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months. Girls were happy with their permanent and trusted rickshaw puller. And Rajesh was happy with his fixed earning opportunity.
One day Rajesh asked one of the girls whom he picked before the other that he was in need of some money.
"How much sir?" the girl asked.
In a very hesitant tone and his eyes down, Rajesh said "I am in need of Rs 4,000. But whatever you can help me with, will be enough for me".
The girl became quiet and silently sat on the rickshaw. She didn't speak anything throughout the way, not even with her friend.
When they reached the institution, the girl gave Rajesh his Rs 100 and then separately gave him Rs 4,000. Rajesh looked at her angel's face in surprise and disbelief.
"Don't worry sir. I got this to pay my fees, but, I can do that tomorrow. See you in the evening at 6" saying this she left for her class.
The Clock struck 6.30. Rickshaw puller of the girls didn't show up. They waited till 7, then caught a bus to home.
A day later, in the afternoon, again - rickshaw puller didn't show up. Days turned into weeks. The rickshaw puller never came back.
The girl was disappointed, not because she lost her money, she was anyways never planning to take it back from the poor rickshaw puller, but, because he broke her trust.
Four years later - the doorbell rang. A man in blue shirt and black pants opened the door.
A girl standing outside the door said "Sir, can you please call madam?"
"Which madam are you talking about? I live here alone" said the man.
"Sir, the Girl! She used to live here four years ago. My father used to call her angel, but I don't know her name." said the girl.
"I bought and shifted in this house one year ago. I don't know where the previous residents go" said the man.
Thanking the man for his time she walked back to the street in disappointment, cursing herself for not being able to come here on time to return the money that his father borrowed for the treatment of her life-threatening illness, four years ago.
She wanted to tell her angel that his father met an accident that day when from the hospital, he left for the institution. She wanted to tell her that he never wanted to rob her; it was the destiny that took his life away. She wanted to request her to not stop trusting or helping people.
But, she was too late.
She looked at the money in her hands, Rs 30,000, her first salary from her first job. The money that she wanted to give to her angel who saved her life, felt like pieces of paper to her.
"Rickshaw" she shouted waving at a rickshaw puller. The rickshaw puller stopped in front of him.
"Where do you want to go madam?" asked the rickshaw puller.
"Nowhere. This is for you" giving away all the money she had in her hands, she walked back to her home.
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ReplyDeleteQuoted as it is "Life simply, is what you make it..." by Thomas Brooks
Humanitarian always pays if not to self but to others to whom you don't know
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