That day was just like any other day. I dressed up for school and left the house for taxi stand. I caught a taxi even before reaching the stand luckily. It was a bright day, with the morning sun shining full bright. When the taxi reached at the stand, the taxi driver got down to gather more passengers, a usual action done in the morning hours by the kind.
At that time I saw something. Something that made my hair stand and glistened my eyes. I saw an old man, in critical condition. He sat in a corner and was vomiting badly. After few coughs blood came from his mouth. He was some old man who needed immediate help, and by help I mean medical aid. I couldn't have got down as I was already twenty minutes late. I began regretting, but God didn't want that to happen.
The man was looking at the taxi. When the taxi driver came and started the taxi, this man came to the driver and said, "Can you drop me to this hospital son?"
A closer view of this man was shocking and pitiful and heart throbbing. His eyes were red and was sweating badly.
"Three rupees", replied the rude taxi driver.
"Son, I am talking about this hospital, this one, at the end of the street. It is at a walking distance son."
"Then walk na. If you don't have the money then move on. Don't raise my temper."
"You sit Babaji,I will give your money", I said grabbing the opportunity in the situation.
He looked at me with those red pitiful eyes which shed more thanking than his words. I didn't get much time to talk to him as the hospital reached much before it was expected. The old man kept his hand on my head, got down and said thank you in that weak voice of his.
That thank you and that handprint on my head felt me above those eight people sitting in the taxi, in fact above all. That day I couldn't get my head off that man. I was happy. Actually the correct word would be glad. Even a worse chemistry test and two taps on the head from the physics teacher could not take that gladness from me. I wasn't glad at those three rupees spent for good,but at the thought that I did my bit.
I learnt a very important lesson in my life that day. It is not necessary for one to get deep into matters, do great things, to get happiness be a hero for everyone is not a hero. But we should do our bit and just walk away, instead of ignoring. That small contribution can provide you with immense gladness, happiness and satisfaction.
That man met me a few weeks later. He was fit, stable and told me he called his son that morning. He hadn't forgotten me.
