Can't forget that cry

I was studying B.Tech in a reputed college in Himachal Pradesh. My college was situated near a tribal village. I was living in a small town & that village was at a distance of half an hour from there. If I has to catch the bus from the main bus stand, crossing that tribal village was compulsory as it was the only way.

One day I was returning from college to the bus stand crossing that village. Suddenly something very soft came under my feet. Before I could understand, I heard a loud scream. Oh, God! A small child came under my feet. I just took him up in my arms, hugged him & started rubbing his back. " My God! What I did do?", I said to myself. "I was walking so carelessly that I did not see an infant lying on the ground. How mean I am, how ruthless I am, how inhuman I am", whatever abuses I could use for myself, I used all of them at that moment.

Listening to the cry the parents of that child came out of the house & asked, " What happened Sir, is our child ok?. I just heard his cry. Definitely he is in deep pain".

I looked at that lady with regret in my eyes. I could not say anything. I just fell on her feet & with folded hands, I said, " Your child was lying here, I was Walking. And...". "And What?", She shouted. "I just walked over him!", I said stammering. 

The expression on her face changed. Looking at her I said with folded hands," It was not intended. He was sleeping on the road. I am sorry...". And I started crying. I was not able to forgive myself. Those innocent people could have lost their child because of me. Never in my life, I had thought that someone will be in such deep pain because of me. But I could do nothing. Lying on my knees with folded hands & tears in my eyes, I was begging for forgiveness. That lady was consistently giving me stern looks.

Then her husband came near me, lifted me up & said," We understand! It was just a mistake. It is not your fault. It is our fault. We just carelessly put our child out of the house. Please don't be regretful."

Listening to his words I felt a bit relaxed but I sincerely wanted to listen to something from the mother. Washing her tears she looked at me & said," We are sorry. We should have kept our child safe. Please forgot what happened.

I thanked them, hugged the child once again & looked into his eyes. He kept looking at me for 5 seconds & then he just smiled. Tears rolled down my eyes seeing his smiling face.

I thanked God that the child was safe. Absolutely shocking incidence it was. May God never bring such a bad day again in my life.

It's been many years, but I still can't forget that cry.