A Walk among the Many feet of Man

The water stopped coming , while Rahul was in the shower and he shouted - "This damn thing stopped again . Just when I enter to clean myself . Ask them to switch on the motor while I stand here ." His mother came near the door , and spoke some reason into his mind - "Arey , Shakespeare . Reduce the drama , learn to handle situations with poise. I will go and tell them." 1 hour went by , Rahul stood for 10 minutes half lathered with a dying coat of his recently bought favorite soap , waiting for the water drops to fill half a bucket. Lucky for him, he was able to come out with dignity, with the half bucket water, ready to make a scene what all the fuss was about, when he heard voices from the basement. He threw in some dress on him, went down to see that motor was not operating properly and there was also a problem of drainage block. While his anger got distracted at this change of events, he saw an old guy push a cycle with some tools and a cloth bag. After the longest 10 minutes of his  life, the old man got down to business.With amazing muscle memory, mental grit, removed the cement slab and just like that, wasting no time he went inside the enclosure which housed the recently flushed remnants of the flat. Rahul's stomach turned, he non-judgmentally winced from shock to see a fellow human do something like this for a livelihood. He averted his eyes, gave a smile to the neighbor and went up the stairs and heard a ping. It was his month end reward, for the hours he slogged. He merely looked at the message and dismissed it, because he was aware what was there in the message. After a while, there was a message in the whatsapp group of his flat, saying 2000 INR was spent that day for maintenance. Then the image of the old guy going down flashed in his mind and he pranced out of his chair, grabbed a wallet and decided to go out for some fresh air. While he was going down the lift, he had a thought to pay a 50INR extra for food, to the old man, but he was long gone.

Out on the streets, there he was, a blessed young man, making good money, listening to music, watching his thoughts morph him into a 'thinker'. On the way, he saw a man struck with shriveled fingers, torn rags ,looking at him, his eyes literally screaming, FEED ME. ! Rahul made a sudden turn, grabbed a loaf of bread and gave it to this guy, who got it and still appeared dissatisfied. Ah. The greed of mankind. It always partners Need. Rahul pushed a 10 INR note and went ahead. He boarded a bus , still listening to his music, mind elsewhere. A few stops later, the bus began to get crowded. He was casually thinking, how he could help people like the old man, who did things he will never do for 1/100th of a salary he was getting. His heart was warm with gratitude but cold with melancholic shock on the plight of few people whose lives were biopics by themselves. He was in his own mental plane, when he realized he was standing face to face with another guy in his 30's , standing awkwardly close with him and Rahul couldn't move his hands nor change his position and it was too obvious for him but to endure the  situation. He started sweating, but the guy in front of him, even more. He noticed the guy gave him looks now and then, as he was breathing hot air, while Rahul's head was almost like a Navy soldier, erect and upright and he was looking down on the others, in a desperate effort to not be violated by this guy. Then in a force of habit, did the pocket touch, when he noticed his wallet was missing. His heart skipped 4 beats. Before he could confirm he had just lost his wallet, the bus halted and 5-6 people got out, along with this guy. Rahul was screaming in his head, Thief Thief ! but his legs were not moving in shock. He somehow went down the stairs and noticed the drenched guy pacing on the opposite side of the road, nervously. Rahul's eyes met his. The guy began to run. A chase began and Rahul finally locked him, in a street and was about to punch the teeth out of that guy, when he fell at his feet and shouted, he had just lost his job and his daughter was starving.  Rahul first ensured he got back his wallet, checked the contents and  began abusing that guy. The guy hung his head, then began. Sir, trust me or not. This is my first time. I had no other option. Recently, his boss argued with him and kicked him out without any settlement and his daughter, who was recently born, needed food and medicines. He had no other option but to take such evil shortcuts, and he realized now that he wasn't even a good thief. Rahul, slowly began to soften, asked him where he lived and found a woman heating soup, and a girl crying on the floor in a 1 room house. The moment the guy saw his wife, he lamented loudly and crunched on the floor, saying "he had no other option" . They exchanged emotional arrows , the Rahul , who was himself on the verge of tearing, called the guy out. Asked him what were his skills, got his phone number, checked his communication skills, asked his past experience and gave his own number.  While parting good bye, his wife gestured him with a weight on her face. The guy looked at Rahul, hugged him and whispered, SHE IS A LADY , SHE HAS NEEDS.  Rahul patted him , dragged him out, bought them some essentials , along with the sanitary pads and wished him good luck. 

 That was the most thickest 30 minutes of his life. He was about to board the bus, when he again stopped in a nearby tea shop. Bought a biscuit packet, to a family of dogs, that came running towards him , he fed them and quickly boarded the bus. He was at the flat and was relieved to know the water system was back in action and he badly wanted a shower. He felt, HE DESERVED a good shower. Then, he paused. What's there to deserve in this. Is that not, everyone's need ? Why did he feel so special about him ? Where was all this pride stemming from? Rahul began his journey of gratitude, humility as he stopped hurrying past his blessings and began to enjoy them when they were happening. The food on his table, the running water. He looked at his folks, who by the wisdom of their age, noticed a sudden maturity in their rich single kid - spoiled son. But they didn't praise him, for, a few words of encouragement can easily distract the Disciplined mind. Time passed and Rahul had a good month at work. It was month end, he had just got out of shower, draped in towel, smiling at the beaming noon sun, when he heard the Usual ding in his phone. This time, it sounded different. He took a deep breath, read through the entire message contents. He Sat down, while the happenings of the first few weeks flashed on his mind, he suddenly got a call. He picked up to hear a voice " Sir, May god Bless you with a life long of luxury and happiness. May you & your family prosper well . I got the job which you recommended and now I can take care of my family more decently. I am truly sorry for what I did to you. May God reward your compassionate heart.". Rahul's heart welled up and his brown eyes became Red, they exchanged pleasantries and he hung up the call. 

Not all of us are blessed. Not all of us are blessed at the same time, or in the same way. We have our tides. We go up and down like everyone. On the way up, if we can manage to lift someone up, when we go down, there will be someone to catch us before the fall. While we are at the top, remember, the next wave is coming . Be thankful. Be grateful. 

Love ALL. Serve ALL.  

Stay Well