Last evening while returning from office I was travelling by bus from Sikenderpur Metro station to Sector 56 where I stay. The bus driver had played a song on the music system and there was this boy all of 12 years who was employed as conductor by the owner of the transport company which operates the bus service. The clothes that the boy was wearing were too poor. Tattered, torn, badly faded and unwashed. But he was so happy in his poverty that he was merrily dancing to the music being played and was collecting the fare by playing around with the passengers. I thought to myself with the kind of gifted life we are blessed with we still find some reason or the other to complain but this little one is so happy in his poverty that the mere playing of music makes him so happy that he starts dancing in full public view. I called him over and asked him as to the reason for his dancing. He said sir Diwali hai. I asked him as to how would he celebrate Diwali. He said din bhar bus men ticket keep paise wasooloonga aur sham ko bazaar men raunaq dekhoonga. I asked him mithai khaega ya patakhe chalaega. His reply sir paise nahin hain is lie doosron ko patakhe chalate hue dekhoonga aur khushi manaaoonga. Koi mithai khila dega to kha loonga. I had watched a video a few days back wherein the anchor had set out to distribute Rs 1000 each to 10 poor street people. I remembered that I had promised to do a similar charity this Diwali. I took out a 100 rupee note and handed over to him and said Bhagwan ne tere lie Diwali gift bheja hai. Achhe se Diwali mañana. He was so happy he rushed to the driver and showed him the money and narrated my words to him. Soon thereafter the child came back to me and returned Rs 50/- to me saying Uncle 50 rupye bahut hain. I refused to take back the Rs 50/- and said beta double Diwali mana lena. Again his joy knew no bounds and he announced to all the passengers dekho in Uncleji ne mujhe 100 rupye die Bhagwan ki taraf se Diwali manane ke lie. All passengers turned towards me. Some even clapped. One very small gesture of kindness had turned me into the most popular passenger in the bus. The boys joy knew no bounds and the return gift of unending happiness that he gave me was the best gift I ever received in life. To celebrate Diwali with that boy in the bus and many more like him heres a song on a sad Diwali sung immaculately by Amirbai Karnataki.
Posted on: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 05:34:17 +0000
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