The day before was one of the hottest in Delhi – 44 degrees, and today was no better. It was about 10:20am and I was on my way to Narayana (Coaching Centre). My shirt and helmet were soaked in sweat as I was waiting at the red light at the IIT flyover.
As I looked in my rear view mirror I saw a very small girl (maybe 4 yrs old) wearing a dirty, torn frock, walking bare feet on the road. I turned back to look at her directly. All the carbon and hot gases from the exhausts of the neighbouring vehicles (not from mine, I had turned off the engine ? ) were hitting her face. She was shouting out loud with her shrill voice “bhaiyya kuch khaane ko chaiye”. With all the roaring of the engines and the horns I could still hear her voice. Poor girl, walking bare feet in the scorching sun, but still shouting with all her might. I couldn’t imagine how she was able to speed up her little steps to reach in front of my bike.
I just had 3 eclairs in my pocket and there was still enough time for the light to turn green. So I called her out loudly. She wasn’t that far from me. I gave her those 3 eclairs, merely a matter of 3 rupees for us but not less than a delicacy for her. She didn’t have words to thank me, maybe she knew none. But the smile on her face was so damn pure, at that one moment all my problems seemed so small, they just vanished and I realized how I was wasting my life sulking over petty things when people like her were facing life with a smile.
That day in Narayana there was a commotion in class because the AC’s weren’t working. I know it was a very very bad situation but atleast it was better than the heat on the roads outside. If everyone would’ve made up their mind to study, it was very much possible to study in that very room. But no one did. I feel this is the problem with all of us, we are always complaining! (See, I’m complaining about this problem rightaway! :P).
We’re always complaining about things we don’t have but never value the things we have. This one day made me realize that life is much bigger than our problems and we should rejoice every moment of it and try to help those who are really in a state of destitute, those without hope.
I’m not askin you to stop leading a life of luxury, just that if you can do whatever minimal for the needy then the world will definitely be a much better place. Whenever you’re down & low and you feel you have all the problems in the world, think about those destitute people and ask yourself “Are my problems really that big?“ .