A Return Gift

It was a Friday evening, I had to visit a nearby ATM counter to draw some money. Since, I had to travel to Bangalore from Chennai this weekend, I needed petty cash in hand. 

  Took some cash from ATM, safely stuffed in the purse and was walking back towards my temporary home near Nanganallur. I was on a transferable job at Chennai and had to travel each weekend to Bangalore to visit my family. This was a routine task. Yet, my family was in need of me. 

   As my thoughts were running through my brain, I kept a slow pace. It was almost 0730 evening and some of the streetlights did not function, due to which it was darker on footpaths. I walked carefully, so that, I would not stamp on some uneven ground and didn't want to get hurt. I remembered once in Bangalore; I slipped over a tiny step and my ankle got fractured. I had to hit the bed for almost a fortnight. So, it just reminded of that incident to be more cautious. 

   Just as I strode along some 500 mts of distance, I saw an old man sitting near an electric pole and was in pain. I stopped and observed him. He was thin and fragile, struggling to breathe like an ಅಸ್ತಮಾ patient. His clothes were dirty and no slippers too. I quickly guessed, he is having a severe ಅಸ್ತಮಾ attack and was in need of some doctor. I asked him, who he was and where abouts. 

  He had cough, throat pain, stomach pain etc., which I could see him physically writhing in pain. I told him to come along with me to visit a nearby doctor. He refused, because, he didn't have money. I was ready in fact to help him out incase doctor treats him for his illness. To my surprise, he was reluctant to come with me to doctor. He said, he will be better after some time and no worry. 

I looked at him with pity but could not do anything forcibly. I went to medical shop and purchased some quick medicines like, cough syrup, Alerid tablets, paracetamol and one water bottle, handed over to him along with two bun packets. He was so happy to see so many things in front of him. I could see brightness in his eyes. There were shiny droplets of water filled his eyes, which gave a glimpse of glitter in the dim streetlight. I thought of my mother, who also suffer with asthma. She would struggle take her breathe in and out each time with great difficulty. Thinking of her, I was very sure of these medicines which could give this poor man some instant relief. All this happening took some 20 to 30 minutes. Later, told him to go home and walked briskly back home. It was already 0835pm. 

Opened the door, put my bag on the chair and entered kitchen to cook something quickly for dinner. I sensed an acute hunger, which was forgotten for a while. At the same, i heard a knock at the door. As I opened the door, i saw my neighbour, owner aunty standing near the doorsteps, holding a closed thali. I was surprised seeing her at odd time, asked her to come in. She smiled at me and offered me the plate full of sweets and variety of eatables in it. She mentioned that she did a special Pooja at Amman temple and brought prasadam for me. I was so happy to see them and really felt God has sent these sweets to me. I was hesitating to cook for dinner after that incident with the asthma patient. What a coincidence! God has understood my mind and sent me these gifts. I whole heartedly thanked aunty and received the prasadam. I told her that plate will be returned in the next morning. She agreed and left. I closed the door behind her. Sat before the plate. It was a miracle I could see. A real God's gift, I was sure. Thanked God many times before I ate them. Ufff! escaped cooking today. Next day, i would be travelling to Bangalore by train. So, I can relax tonight with good sleep throughout.

  In my dreams, there was that man on the street, almost cured from illness, smiling at me and thanking me with his blessings to me. I was staring at him surprisingly and he suddenly disappeared from there. It was a dream I saw, but, felt goosebumps in reality. Wasn't it a reality test in life? What if I had not helped him on the previous night? He would have collapsed on the road. Someone else may be there for his aid, since God takes care of each one of us. This time, I won the toss to be awarded. Lucky to be his choice. So, you can also be his choice for best rewards. Stay blessed.