Smile of hope

It was one busy day for me and had been cribbing about it within me since that morning. The day meant - travelling to too many places as I took my job too seriously having booked three meeting for a day one after another and at different parts of the city. That day now lays in the past for over a week or two, but something in particular has not allowed me to forget that morning and the resultant day afterwards. It was one of those inspiring instances that prepare you for the entire day and your march ahead for a struggle. I was in Saket, south of city, when I had to walk for mere 5 or 10 min to reach for my first venue for a meeting of that day.

As I was walking alongside the road avoiding the footpath, I came across a usual sight of a child pulling a rickshaw (this one with loads of mattresses and a person sleeping over it). As he was surpassing me, he asked for a direction to which I responded. It felt good.

He crossed me by a few steps and slowed down. Now I was almost walking neck-to-neck with him. He turned to me and smiled. Don’t know what made him share with me  his struggle but he said, “Abhi hum Yamuna paar se aa rahe hai.” I was shocked to hear that. The distance he has already travelled on that tri-cycle must have been more than 25 kms.

It was nothing new, as children like him survive like that with loads of hard work each day. His destination from Saket must have been around 10 kms further. I was shocked to the fact that he was smiling. That smile was unnerving. How can he afford to smile? Next thing I knew is that I was smiling too. I stopped cribbing about my hectic schedule - of facing a long day Delhi heat, trepidation of travelling within the city & braving its traffic and the pain associated to speaking to many people only for work - right away.

Now, whenever I am down and feel there is too much of pressure on me, I recall that kid without an identity but having a charming smile. Guess, everyone needs a source of inspiration and hope. I found mine for that particular day and may be, for many more days to come.