An Old Man's Thank You!

I looked at my watch again and was afraid that won’t be able to catch the bus. Still, I started walking faster.

I was just a few meters away from the bus stop and suddenly I saw the bus reaching the stop. I sensed I won’t be able to make it to the bus so lost the hope and slowed down a bit. My eyes were still on the bus when I realized an old man who luckily saw me approaching the bus, shouted, come fast. I rushed to the bus. He had stopped the bus for me. We both boarded and sat next to each other. I glanced at him, He must be in his late 70 a pale face full of wrinkles, he looked weak. His face bore a lost hope like look. His eyes were small and have eye bags.

I was gasping so as soon as I settled down I said-

“Thank you Sir“. Before I could say anything further.

“All I have got in my entire life is Thank You. Nothing else,” he replied quickly and perhaps painfully.

 “It took me by surprise rather I would say I was shocked and did not know what to say further. I tried to think through it but all in vain. I Could not comprehend why would someone say so.

 

His expression was of frustration and fatigue. I wondered if every wrinkle would tell a story of his struggle and survival.

” It seems you have been a good Samaritan in your entire life”. I managed to say”

He took a deep breath and said:

“Well, I certainly cannot claim that but whenever and wherever I could be, I did.”

“Isn’t that a great thing?” I quizzed.

“Only if I could get a bit of it in return.” He replied as if he was complaining.

His voice was soft, almost fragile as if it and his heart would break any minute. Perhaps his heart was already broken.

He seems to be lost in his own thoughts which were buried deep down in his heart. And then

“my wife has left me for a better living. My son and his family do not stay with me. I stay alone, managing this old and turbulent life.” He uttered all this in one full and really sad tone.

I felt bad about it. I could feel this soul is really into so much distress. He kept looking outside the window. Not sure if he was trying to hide his obvious pain which has now spread all over his face.

“I thought, Blood is thicker than the water. No ?” “And people go to any extent to save this” ?

I said rather asked him.

“Only if you do not dilute it with any impurities”. Was his argument.

In between, he also would get irritated by honking.

 He was overtaken by emotions that, I think, had been buried for decades.

 “Maybe God has some better plan for you, Sir.” I, somehow, tried to console him a bit.

“Oh! Yes, the grave is waiting for me.” Was quick reply and he smiled unwillingly this time.

He got down immediately at the next stop and left me puzzled.

“Does he really deserve all this suffering”? I asked myself, only to know that nobody would answer this.