Little Acts of Kindness!

‘I can’t see you…

with my mortal eyes,

can’t touch you with my flesh

Still you reach me in

countless ways, I feel blessed

Neither You sit in temples,

nor in ceaseless chants…

instead, I find you

in little acts of kindness

that you shower on me through

nameless faces, faceless hands’

How many time we encounter little acts of kindness that reaffirm our belief in essential goodness of humanity? Or Should I rephrase my question: Are we sensitive enough to give little gestures of generosity, their due respect! 

Few days ago, I went to market to buy straps for an old pair of slippers. I hopped many footwear stores, everywhere my query met strange stares (who buys straps these days!). I was advised to buy new pair of slippers instead. At last, one shopkeeper guided me to a corner of the market, where a cobbler was sitting, drowned in his work, as emaciated as broken, worn out shoes strewn around him.  I asked him for a pair of straps. He opened his metal chest (as old as himself) and gave me the suitable pair quoting Rs. 20 as price. Short of change, I gave him a note of Rs. 100. He refused saying that whenever I got Rs. 20, I could pay him, as he himself didn’t have change for Rs. 100. I was astonished at his little act of generosity. That cobbler didn’t know me to trust with this precious amount. Rs. 20 may hold little value for you and me, but for a cobbler who gets Rs. 5 or 10 for all the hardwork and dexterity that he applies to mend a shoe, Rs. 20 is too big amount to forget. I know many suave looking gentlemen, owners of big fancy stores, who will not sell their fares if you happen to have Rs. 5 less than the required amount, as it goes against their rules. His little act of trust and kindness stirred me beyond words, Ofcourse, I returned his Rs. 20, but his generosity I cannot repay. Similarly, The other day I went to watch a movie with my family, bought tickets through my credit card and forget to take it back. I hurried to the hall as the movie was just about to begin. After the intermission, (I had totally forgotten about the card by then) a boy came looking for me, straining his eyes in the dark, handed me the card and darted out. My heart skipped a beat as I realized what someone could have done with this card, which was now placed safely in my wallet. After the movie, I searched for the boy to express my gratitude but he was gone after his duty hours. My vegetable vendor, who daily comes to sell me fruits and vegetables, never accepts Rs. 100 or Rs. 200 notes if I don’t have change. It becomes my duty to make the full payment next day as he himself never reminds me the previous due amount.

That is the kindness, coming from humbles humans that makes the world go and keeps hearts throbbing. The unexpected trust put in me makes me wonder what did I do to deserve this. Many such people came and went in my life, I never knew their names and forgot their faces with time, but their benevolence bolstered my faith in Him. Every night I close my eyes and thank Him in the name of all those people who make this world worth living!