A lesson in compassion

By: Yadunandan Vatts, Apeejay School, Rama Mandi

The old man’s face remained in my sight for the whole day, his trembling voice kept ringing in my ears all day long.

Going to school with my mother is part of my daily routine. The distance between my house and school is almost about 10 to 12 minutes. Every day I observed a very old and weak man repairing bicycles, who was sitting under a tree that provided him shade. One day I finally asked my mother “Maa, why is an old man like him working at this age, when he should be resting at home”. My mother replied “there might be some responsibilities on his shoulders”. Then my mother and I got out of the car and I asked him “Uncle why are you working at this age when you should sit at home and relax?” But his reply made me feel sad “Bache, I have to feed my family if I won’t work then who would, there is no one else in my home who can earn money. My young son died in the times of the Corona virus, he was the only one who could have earned in the home after me. So, now all the responsibilities fall on my shoulders”.

I really didn’t think that there might be some people who would starve all day to feed their family once. A few days later it was my birthday, but I was still thinking about the old man, his face remained in my sight for the whole day; his trembling voice kept ringing in my ears all day long. I asked my parents that I want to help the old man in any way possible. My father asked me “Yadu, tell me how would you like to help the old man?” I replied “I would like to provide him some groceries, some money and a shelter where he work and would be safe from the rain, sun and any type of extreme conditions”. My father agreed to this and asked me to take us to the old man after arranging all the resources that I asked”.

I also contributed money from my Piggy Bank to help the man and said “Papa I have some money to help the man if you can provide me some money, then it would be very helpful for me.”As soon as we arrived near the stall of the old man I touched his feet to get his blessings, my mother, father and I brought the groceries, money and shelter made up of bamboo and sticks which was covered with plastic sheet, at first he was surprised to see what was happening but as soon as my father told him about all of the items.

Tears started to roll out of his eyes, he was so happy that he started crying and he told that many people gave him sympathy but no one ever helped him but you are the first one to help me. He gave blessings to all of us and then hugged me and said “thank you beta, I will never forget what you did for me”. At that moment I was very happy and my parents also praised me for helping a needy person.