A Heartful Mind

It doesn't cost much to be kind

Just a heartful mind

Few days back..

A hot-humid afternoon in Mumbai..

My preferred auto-rickshaw ride..

From some place to back home..

Requested the rickshaw guy to stop en route..

For me to pick some stuff..

Very kindly he obliged.. 

Bought..

A Bisleri, a Thumps Up...

And a Maza.. on second thought..

As the rick guy waited patiently..

Reached home..

Paid the fare..

He waited..

For me to take out the strolley bag first..

Before proceeding to my 2 more bags..

I handed over the Maza bottle to him..

Astonished, he looked at me..

'It's for you', I smiled :) 

As I took out the second bag..

'आप ने ये मेरे लिये लिया'?

'जी, अपने लिये लिया तो सोचा आपके लिये भी ले लूँ', गर्मी बहुत है ना'..

'मैं दस साल से रिक्शा चला रहा हुँ पर आज तक किसी ने ऐसा व्यवहार नहीं किया, रुकिये मैं आपका बैग उतारने में मदद करता हूँ'।

'नहीं, नहीं, बस हो ही गया, एक ही तो बैग और है', I said, wondering why such a simple act of thoughtfulness was so rare (10 years, he said!)

'नहीं मैम, आपने मुझे सम्मान दिया तो मेरा भी फर्ज़ बनता है की मैं आपका सम्मान करुँ'।

It was my turn to be surprised at his choice of words..

I let him keep the last bag out..

'नमस्ते, खुश रहिये', I said and moved in my ground floor apartment..

As I opened the window, I saw him sitting in a rickshaw and enjoying the cold drink, still smiling..

Feeling good, I too smiled to myself, as I turned around to unpack my stuff..