Good Old Street

Ramu was a nine-year-old boy whose life was an abundance of all thing’s luxury and a lack of the most basic joys in life. He lived in a mansion with his parents – mostly with his mother, as his dad visited them for a couple of days between several weeks of the gap. Strangely and sadly, there was less peace at home during those days when his dad was present than during the weeks his father was away. Ramu’s parents fought severely over silliest matters; they vehemently denied each other’s concerns and opinions. Loud cries, witnessing physical and verbal abuse resulted in Ramu having a rough childhood. His mother argued that Ramu’s father neglected family and focused merely on expanding business; she alleged that he was devoid of any sentiment and emotions. Maybe she had a point! On the contrary, Ramu’s father justified his actions saying, he had worked very hard to run the family and to ensure his family got all the comforts. He regretted that his wife never understood him at all. Ramu could not take sides at the tender age of nine.

On the way back home

Ramu family chauffeur picked him from school and dropped him at home. Ramu’s caretaker accompanied in the car just so she could feed Ramu along the way. One day, Ramu saw an old man wave at him. Ramu gleefully waved back- he hadn’t smiled so fully in a long time. The old man’s contagious smile became a routine and Ramu looked forward to it every day on his way back home. This continued for several months and then another fine day, he saw a little shop on the same street where he had waved at the old man. The shop had a middle-aged woman selling Ice-Lollies. At any given time, there were a bunch of little girls and boys at the shop’s entrance. Each one competed against the other to get their share of Ice-Lollies first.

Ramu insisted that his caretaker take him to the shop. The caretaker agreed after much thought and consideration. Ramu enjoyed with the children. They played hopscotch and hide-and-seek. Ramu went and spoke in person to the old man too. Due to his quiet and kind nature, Ice Lollies’ shop owner too grew very fond of Ramu. 

The caretaker and the chauffeur observed Ramu at close quarters; they realized that Ramu had started to feel so positive and hopeful in life, thanks to the wonderful evenings he spent in the street which had the kids, the old man, and the kind woman at the shop.

Three Decades Later

At thirty-nine, Ramu was a happy man with a beautiful family, a great job, and very many comforts to boast of and be content too. 

The journey was never easy – he took a long time to cope with the bitter separation of his parents, which happened when he was a teenager; he missed having grandparents, relatives around throughout his growing up years because his parents strictly chose exceedingly painful private lives. He had found it hard to trust anyone in his life and pretty much remained desolate. Be it his studies or his profession, whether it was pursuing a hobby or taking care of his health, Ramu lacked concentration, ambition, and interest. However, this was only until he chose to change his attitude. Thanks to his new-found family. They were a source of motivation, love, happiness.

Each time he fell, each time life threw a challenge at him, Ramu took it in his stride rather gracefully.

Ramu remembered to always smile and maintain peace, like the old loving man on the street. He was long gone now, which affected and depressed Ramu a lot. Ramu ensured to enjoy every bit of his life and be thankful for everything, like the wonderful Ice Lolly shop owner.

In the thirty years, he kept in touch with all his childhood friends, caretaker, chauffeur, old man and the shop owner. They all loved Ramu very much, but for Ramu, they remained an integral part of his life and an inseparable part of his conversations with his children too. They had showered values and life lessons to take forward; they had given him priceless memories.

Whenever they all met, Ramu would profusely thank them. When they said they did not do much at all, Ramu would say that little acts of kindness go a long way in making a person’s life beautiful, valuable, and meaningful. “Humble doers like you all never realize that you see. One another lesson for me to remember, follow and preach. “Ramu signed off on most occasions, saying so.