A Smile of Acquintance

With head held high, sunglasses on my eyes,

Beside my new car, in pride I stood

while I lavishly laughed at a barefoot passer-by

who was clothed in rags and begged for food.

The response of the beggar was also apathetic;

His glaring eyes set deep into mine.

The look in his eyes imminently turned sympathetic

when he left me in an enigma with a smile of acquaintance.

Within hours I had forgotten the man in rags

as I drifted silently along solitary roads

Through the desserts having no milestones or tags

when I heard a screech and my car stood still.

A couple of times, in vain I tried to start it up

and minutes later, stepped out in scorching sun

only to discover that my car- my pride

is wounded in the engine and has substantially given up.

My branded shirt was scratched and torn as I tried to mend it

but I was no engineer, so I set out to find one.

I walked for miles along unknown, unseen directions

utill my feet were sore and I threw away my new itchy shoes.

It was past twilight, no human in sight

and I had almost given up when I felt something poking.

There was a hand mirror in my pocket which showed me my true face;

It was no different from the beggar I had earlier laughed at.

I realized that I was barefoot, in rags and could even beg for food.

Recalling my rude gesture, I repented and begged for forgiveness.

I insanely smiled at the mirror, only to find back a rugged smile of acquaintance,

-a smile more quenching and precious than any of the waning worldliness.

Well, the lesson was learnt; hence the sin forgiven

but my ruthless laughter would never be forgotten

for it ever reminds me of a fulfilling smile of acquaintance

which yet another angel in a car which stopped to save me gave by.