Fabric

How often have you heard the question, "What good deed did you do today?", or advised, "You should do one good deed everyday". I guess we all are familiar with these. Why do people say such things? Why can't we be bad? Being bad is much much easier than being good. Still why do we have Mother Teresas and Nelson Mandelas as our idols? This post isn't about fabrics, but the small fabrics of life that we sometimes ignore in the humdrum of life.

Here is another of my experiences. It just happened today so its still fresh in my mind.
After a hectic and tiring, but satisfying day at work, I came down our office building. It was raining outside. I quickly thought of getting a shared auto, instead of a bus as I'd have been snug in the auto and would have to spend only 3 extra rupees for it. So I just came on the road and waved my hand at everything that went past me. It was too late before I realized that I had waved at an auto which usually takes single passengers and is more expensive. He stopped for me. I thought about not going up to him as he'd ask for much more than what I usually spend. Still I went up to him and asked him if he would go to Sholinganallur(the place I am staying). He said something in tamil which i presumed to be, "come sit". But when I asked him for the fare, it did not surprise me when he asked for 40 bucks. So I just told him that I could not give him that much, and went on back looking for a shared auto. He then called me back and asked what amount I was ready to pay. I knew that after hearing the amount I had in mind, he'd just disappear. So I just told him I couldn't pay over 10 rupees. Even for that he asked me to sit. I was surprised. I wanted to reassure if he had heard what I said properly so I repeated the amount thrice. And he just nodded and asked me to sit.

I was sitting in the auto and looking at the buildings passing by, thinking of what I did today and what work would be assigned to me tomorrow. Suddenly something broke my train of thought. I looked at the auto driver. He was eagerly looking at the road for prospective customers. But unfortunately for him no one was extravagant enough to sit in a single passenger auto, even though it was raining. So he just drove on. Something in my mind suddenly forced me to think of him. Why had he called me back? Why had he agreed to go for 10 bucks when he could have got 40 bucks? I presumed, he might not have had many customers in the day. He might have a wife and kids at home, whom he had to feed. Thinking all of this, I got touched. I couldn't help thinking about all the poor people I encountered everyday. Even though I didn't help them, i was driven to think about the circumstances they were facing, with probably no one to help.

I got down from the auto at my stop and opened my wallet. I saw a 20 rupee note right in front. I pulled it out and gave it to the driver. He was about to open his pocket and give back 10 bucks. But then I just showed him my hand. I could not say anything. He kept the 20 bucks and drove off. I started walking back to my place. For a moment I stopped at looked at the beautiful droplets of water falling out of the sky. They were beautiful. They once again reminded me how some simple, small little things matter so much. How small fabrics of life can be so important. It brought a smile upon my face. Even though I hadn't helped every poor person in the world. Even though it wasn't a big deal for me to give away those extra 10 bucks. And maybe that person did not even need help. But it gave me peace of mind. And today when I go to bed, I'll sleep in peace thinking about not what I established at work for a fortune 500 company, but the small little thing that I did to help someone.

PS: title suggested by Salil Gupte