Insignificant Move, Unexpected Twist

Insignificant Move, Unexpected Twist

One day, when I was a in high school, I saw a kid from my class walking home from school. His name was Syed. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, 'Why would anyone bring home all his books home when we are given lockers in school? He must really be a nerd.'

I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a cricket match with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on. As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him...

He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes...My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye.As I handed him his glasses, I said, “Those guys are jerks“

He looked at me and said, “Hey thanks!” There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude. I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before.. We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.

I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends, he jubilantly agreed. We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Syed, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him.

Monday morning came, and there was Syed with the huge stack of books again.I stopped him and said, “Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!”

He just laughed and handed me half the books.

Over the next four years, Syed and I became best friends. When we were seniors we began to think about college. We were going different places. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor and I was going for Engineering.

Syed was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and give a speech on our Graduation day.

I saw Syed. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school.He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him. Boy, sometimes I was jealous! Today was one of those days.I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, “Hey, big guy, you'll be great!”

He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. “Thanks.....thanks for being you, thanks for being my friend” he said.

As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began..
“Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends....I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them.....I am going share with you a story... of my best friend.”


I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told everyone about the first day of how we met. That day I found out the real reason, he was carrying all of his books home... He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile and then he finished. “Thankfully, I was saved...My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable.....Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.”
I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his Mom and dad looking at me with teary eyes and smiling that same grateful smile.

Not until that moment did I realize it's depth. Never underestimate the power of your actions..With one small gesture you can change a person's life. For better or for worse..God puts us all in each others lives to impact one another in some way. Look for God in others. There is no beginning or end..

Yesterday is history...Tomorrow is a mystery..m Today is a gift...
Please, don’t waste it...

Although this is not a story of my own, I do wish I could say that it was, to me it is very profound and heart touching... It teaches me to shower love and respect on every soul because someone out there just may need it... In the way that Syed needed the author’s friendship...

The Crushed Flower

The Crushed Flower… 

Sharing an instance with shame and guilt….

It was just yesterday when I was back to joy after a long period of ill mental state. It owes to two of my dear dear Pals… They brought me back alive from the hell I was in..!! Yesterday was the last day of our little get together of 3-4 days and I felt very heavyhearted while bidding them farewell and simultaneously thanking God for two such beautiful gifts


I sat in front of a posh mall just remembering the immensely joyous moments we shared in last few days.
Right then a small kid came to me and begged for money. I generally drop a coin or two to the needy beggars particularly old or handicapped people but never to young fellows or kids. I suddenly remembered messages like “Don’t encourage begging of kids because people use them to get money” “By dropping a coin, you are encouraging the person to drive more kids into beggary.” I strongly believed that people who are capable should earn their bread not beg for it or make others beg. Keeping all this in mind, I denied giving him money. He stared at me for another minute in hope that I would melt but I was adamant enough.

Couple of minutes later another small girl came and begged me money. I denied this time too. She pleaded me “Saab, Do din se kuch nahi khaaya saab. Do naa” I looked at her and she was all messed up. Tangled hairs, dusty skin, dried and cracked lips, wearing untidy and torn frock looked like she has been using it for ages. I somehow believed that she was saying truth but I am very strict to what I decide. I didn’t give her money.. Instead I asked “Sach mein nahi khaaya tune..” and she replied in a feeble voice which I couldn’t hear but only noticed her nodding of head. I asked her “Khaana khaane chalegi…??” She just nodded her head with an expressionless face. I took her to a nearby restaurant made her sit and asked “kya khaayegi…!!!”
“Kahaan rehti hai…?” I asked her…

“Station mein hi soti hoon saab.”

“Akele rehti hai tu...?”

“Nahi saab do aur bhai hain mere.”

“Aur maa baap kahaan hain tere...?”

“Nahi hain saab.”

“Kabse nahi hain… ”

“Nahi jaanti saab… Kabhi dekha nahi.”

“To tereko kaise pata wo tere bhai hain..???” (I was still  doubtful whether she was saying truth...!)

“Mera bhai mereko sambhaalata tha… Ek bada bhai hai aur ek  mere se chota hai..”

“Wo log bhi aise hi maang kar khaana khaate hain…?”

She nodded in agreement.

She gobbled the Vada Pav in as large chunks she could. It  made me feel nice about my little deed. I felt satisfied and proud from inside.  I know being PROUD is a big word but it’s not everyday that one gets to do such  a deed. I mean I was really really happy seeing her eat..

“Bhookh lagti hai hamesha..”  (How stupid of me to ask that question…)

“Bahot lagti hai.”

“Khaana nahi milta to kya karti hai..”

“Bhookh mein so jaati hun saab… Nahi to hamare bazu mein ek  aurat soti hai.. Wo kabhi kabhi khaane deti hai…”

“Roti nahi hai tu...?” I  smiled forcibly to make her feel brave and asked her…

“Nahi saab.. Main nahi roti … Wo chota walaa bhai kabhi  kabhi rota hai..”

She replied without a hint of expression on her face…

It was a treat to watch her eat.. Everytime she took a large  chunk it drove chills down my spine.. Her words gave me goose bumps… I wanted  to hear more of her and her struggle with life…

“Tune Vada Pav kyun maanga… Roti..ya Dosa kyun nahi..??”

I was dumbfounded with her answer “Wo kabhi nahi khaaya  saab.. Pata nahi pet bharega ki nahi..!! Paise milte hain to yehi khaa lete  hain.. Aur kuch nahi milta aur koi deta bhi nahi..Ek din mein ek do pav mil  jaata hai to ho jaata hai..”

People survive on two pieces of bread a day…!!! I couldn’t  prevent moistening of my eyes, inspite of a brave face I tried to put on.

“School jaane ka socha hai…??  Uniform pehnoge. Kitaabein padhoge…!!”

“Aur khaana saab…??” she innocently interfered..

I had no answers to her only question. How could one dream  of school or better life when her whole day she begged money to manage two Vada  Pavs…  Her impeccant mind couldn’t not  dream of anything bigger when she couldn’t get even that on some day. I felt  ashamed of myself for laughing on the first time when she ordered Vada Pav..

She finished eating. She asked me with an expressionless  face “Saab, Bhai ke liye bhi do na.”

I couldn’t deny this request so I bought her some more. But,  before giving her the parcel I asked her to smile once. (Maybe rude of me to do  so.. But I wanted to see her smile..at least once..)

“Pehle ek baar hass ke bata to parcel dunga..”

She stared at me with wide open eyes for a minute. It might  be because she was surprised by my gesture or may be nobody ever asked her to  do so earlier .One possibility could be of she considering me cruel and wanted  to refuse doing so but giving a thought about her brothers…  Or maybe be she had forgotten to smile…

She eventually gave a smile which didn’t reach her eyes..  but that was beautiful enough to click a picture and hang on my wall looking at  it for hours. It had miraculous effect like it brought all the blood to my  heart and made it heavy and pump louder.

I gave her the parcel and said “Jaa... Bhai ko dede…” She  ran like a tiger out of cage.

Coming back.. I met some very good friends.. Gossiped,  cracked joke, shared instances, had some gadget shopping and then dinner before  returning home. I forgot the earlier time with that small girl like it never  happened.

Back at home, I was unpacking my bag. I found a packet of  Chicken Biriyani which we packed at a hotel earlier for not being capable  enough to eat it. I had my stomach full now and eating more was impossible but  throwing was unacceptable to me. Something which Mom had inscribed in mind.  “Never insult your food..”  Seemed funny  to me then but now, as I am away from home I tend to believe her more. I opened  the packet hesitatingly and noticed it has begun to stink a little… To my  relief I got an excuse for not eating it anymore..

As I was going to throw it into the dustbin, the image of  the girl popped into my head and I couldn’t let the packet out of my hands. She  was stopping me from behind… I felt like she was saying “Mujhe de do main khaa  lungi..”  She was all over my head and  she made me to decide eating it. I was determined now”It may stink but I will  not throw it.. I will eat it anyhow..!!! At least for that girl..“  I regretted for not remembering about it … I  could have given it to that girl… It would have made her smile once more… Maybe  this time the smile reaches her eyes… I cursed myself…

I opened the packet and began eating the stinking food spoon  by spoon..  There was a fight between my  senses and my conscience. I almost finished it half when I had thought popping out  like. “What if I get ill with this?? ” “Should I consider it madness and quit??  ”  “Am I being too delirious...! “

Finally my senses won over by somehow contradictorily proving  that I needn’t eat that. It was then that I packed it in a hurry with a fear of  changing my mind again and quickly threw it in the dust bin. I thought the  faster, the better.  But after I threw  it, a sense of guilt engulfed me. I thought how rude I was to throw food away. …  I repented not giving her that biriyani as she would have been the happiest!!  I kneeled before God because it looked like  the only option I got to relieve me out.. I saw that girl and I cried.. I cried  like a baby… Begged her to pardon me… I promised to myself thatNEVER EVER IN MY LIFE I WILL WASTE FOOD…  EAT ONLY WHAT I CAN… NEVER OVER EAT…!!!

I always thought of working for the social cause  and I think I’m just given an inspiration to work towards it. I will definitely  do my bit. I just felt a need to write this experience so that some more people  might agree with me and stop wasting food and money on areas of insignificant  things as the same thing could mean the world to somebody…

Slow down and look around....

Have you ever watched kids

On a merry-go-round?

Or listened to the rain

Slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?

Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down.

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

Do you run through each day

On the fly?

When you ask "How are you?"

Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done

Do you lie in your bed

With the next hundred chores

Running through your head?

You'd better slow down

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

Ever told your child,

We'll do it tomorrow?

And in your haste,

Not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch,

Let a good friendship die

Cause you never had time

To call and say "Hi"?

You'd better slow down.

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere

You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,

It is like an unopened gift....

Thrown away.

Life is not a race.

Do take it slower

Hear the music

Before the song is over.