"Kindness is a gift everyone can afford to give (1147 words)

Arun Kaul was in a slight hurry to reach home. He had promised his wife and children a surprise and had bought pizza, cakes and ice cream. Wanting to save time. he decided to take a narrow, dimly lit, foul-smelling lane. Normally, he avoided it in the evenings

Halfway through, one man in faded jeans, a dirty T-shirt, emerged from the darkness and accosted him with a growl voice,” Gimme your wallet, if you wish to go home safe”

Arun had a lot of money in his wallet and hence hesitated. Without a warning, the vagabond pulled out a gun and shot him in the belly and ran away with the wallet. As Arun lay on the ground bleeding, he thought of his wife and children waiting for him.  The packets lay by his side. Blood was draining out, and he was slowly lapsing into drowsiness.

 No one passed through that lane, and he was slowly dying uncared for. He had no strength even to reach his mobile that lay a little away from him. Despite being dark, a couple of passersby, who went that way, did not stop, taking him to be a drunk. His mind turned towards God.

As luck would have it, a 12-year-old rag picker who came along the road saw the well-dressed Arun lying on his side. The boy reached him and called ‘Sir, why are you lying here? It is dirty”.

When there was no response, the boy touched him and tried to turn him when he gasped at the stream of blood.

Without a second thought, he sprinted towards the main road, shouting for help. A patrolling policeman heard him, and together they rushed back. Within minutes, Arun was lifted into a police car and rushed to the hospital, the boy beside him, wide-eyed and anxious.

The doctors operated immediately. The bullet had missed a vital artery very narrowly. They managed to save his life, just in the nick of time. The policeman left after hearing the man was out of danger, but the young ragpicker lingered for a while, peering through the glass of the emergency ward before quietly slipping away.

 The next morning at 9 am, the boy in his dirty clothes was at the reception. The nurse at the desk recognised him and asked him,” What brought you here? What is your name?”

“I am Pramod and came to enquire about the well-being of the person operated last night”

“Are you related to him?”

“No, ma’am. I found him lying in the lane and helped the police bring him here. I just wanted to know if he’s okay.”

The nurse smiled, touched. “You’re a good boy. Wait, I’ll find out.” She made a quick call and returned. “He’s fine and recovering well. They moved him to a private room.”

“Thanks. Would you mind checking for a few days daily about him? “It became a daily practice for Pramod to come at 9 am sharp, and for the nurse at the desk to give him the feedback. One day, she said, “I mentioned your daily visit to the patient’s wife, and the patient would like to see you. Would you go and meet him now?”

The boy hesitated, looking at his dirty clothes and uncovered legs.” Why do you hesitate when you have been showing such concern daily? Please come. I will take you. He would be happy to see his saviour”, she prompted

When the boy entered the spacious private room, Pramod saw Arun sitting on the bed with his wife and a girl of around 13 years on chairs by his side. “Pramod, is it your name?  Come near. Do not be afraid. If I am alive today, it is because of your prompt help. I am indebted to you.”

The boy just smiled and said, “It was good luck that I passed through that lane that day. I do not go there in the evenings.”

“How lucky it turned out for me”, Arun said and turned towards his wife. She patted the boy and said,” Thank you very much, God willing, we can meet after we return to our home. Meanwhile, have this for buying clothes”, as she proffered a thousand-rupee note.

Pramod said, “I do not need it. I just did what was a normal duty for a fellow being. Thank you,” and started walking out

The young girl gesticulated to the boy to stay. She turned to her dad to whisper in Punjabi,” Papa, what is it you are doing to someone who saved your precious life?  Where can you find such a young Samaritan? Is this the way you repay your debt of gratitude? Sorry, I am not happy,” she said with tears as she rushed out of the room.

Arun, with a knowing smile, looked at his wife, who opened her handbag and took out two thousand rupees. When she gave it to him, the boy said, “I do not need any alms. I just did what was a normal duty to a fellow being. Thank you”, and started walking out

“You are mistaken. This is not alms. It is a token gift on this happy day,” said Arun

“No, sir.  I do not need anything," and walked out proudly with a straight back.

The nurse who took the boy looked at the small chap with utter disbelief and asked outside the room, “Why did you refuse?”

“I may be a rag picker, but certainly not a beggar to take money for nothing. Thanks for all the help,” he said and walked away, disappearing into the crowd outside.

Arun recovered fully in a few weeks. He had the boy’s address, collected through the nurse when the boy visited the hospital daily. He went with his wife and daughter to the boy’s hut with a big basketful of fruits, cookies and chocolates.

He introduced himself as the owner of a well-known automobile workshop and explained how he came to meet Pramod and how indebted he is to him. “I wish to discharge this debt not by giving some money alone, but by turning his and your lives completely. You can move in a week to a free tenement near the workshop,

Pramod will be absorbed as a Trainee on a generous monthly stipend and trained fully, besides being educated in a technical school. I will bear the educational expenses of your daughter. You visit the workshop and choose a job suited to your skill and aptitude. Meantime, accept a token of one lakh rupees to adapt to the changed lifestyle. tell me if you need anything more,” he said as he shook hands with him.

Arun’s daughter could not contain her joy when she hugged her dad with pride.

The man and his family fell to their knees at his feet, unable to control the tears and joy at the incredible miracle.