A Gift

Recently I experienced a very unusual incident. I was standing at a bill counter of a very populist retail outlet. There I saw a 5-year-old boy probably arguing with the cashier. He was buying himself a doll and I guess he was short of some cash. So I came close to that boy and dropped Rs.200 in the bag that he was carrying on his back. I asked him – ‘Betaa Kya Hua?’ He said; I want this doll but have only this much cash. He opened his wrist and I saw he had just Rs.57 in his hand and that the doll cost around Rs.250.

I asked that little boy to check his bag, I told him “maybe you are carrying some more money”, respecting my words, He did check his bag and found Rs200 that I dropped off intentionally knowing he is short of cash. He gave that cash to the cashier and got his doll. He seemed very happy after getting that doll.

After that, I asked that little boy, By the way to whom are you gifting this doll? He answered very politely – “For My Little sister”. This amount of love for his sister had left me mesmerized and ask more questions to him. I asked him –“Where she is?” He said with complete innocence on his face - “She went to gods hands”. I was completely shocked and was not able to communicate further that “went to god’s hand” means she is no more. I went completely speechless and was just looking at that innocent eyes and at that time he said – “Uncle, please let me go, My dad said my mother is in hospital and she is also going to god’s hand to accompany my little sister as she is all alone there naa. So I don’t want my little sister to miss me, so I want my mom to take this doll along with her and gift her to my little sister.” His answer made tears roll down my cheeks. 

The level of innocence that the little boy was carrying can’t be expressed through words. He then left the store saying –“Bye Uncle’ and dancing to the joy of getting a doll. 

The next morning, I was just having my usual morning walk, I saw a house with a white tent (symbolizing someone’s death) in my neighborhood. I was just walking by and saw this little boy there and immediately I recognized this little boy and he was standing with his father and was waving bye to his dead mother (who’s corpse was carried down in a structure by their relatives for final rituals). There I observed that the doll that this little boy brought yesterday was placed on his dead mother’s body near to her heart.

This Young little boy seemed very happy, unaware of the situation, Carrying complete innocence in his heart, waving bye to the Corpse. This made me think, about how much we can impact someone’s life just by doing a little thing. Despite having such a harsh situation, the boy carried a smile on his face just because of the help I did.

So gift someone a smile today, May be that smile can change someone else perspective towards life.

So do all things, whatever you can to make someone else day better. Maybe that Lil thing of yours, might bring a beautiful smile to someone’s face. The joy of spreading smiles can’t be matched by anything. Be Kind. :)