Acts of kindness
Sama’s countenance brightened the entire corridor. Finally, FINALLY!! She unsuccessfully attempted to quell her grinning (it seemed so inappropriate), but those who saw her didn’t mind at all. She was such a lovely person, so kind and down to earth; she deserved all the joy she was exuding.
It had been two months and eight days since the hospital had become her home. It had been that long since her husband had come home with the fever, complained of uneasiness and later that night had had his first heart attack. Sama always wondered where she had got the strength, both physical and mental, to cope with the situation (being a spiritual person, she knew the answer, but wondered nevertheless). She could never believe how she, a blissfully ignorant home maker, had found the presence of mind to call the ambulance, pack up important things, withdraw money and bring along his health insurance card. The support she got was stupendous. Friends, family, her husband’s colleagues would be there day and night to show their support. Her husband slowly recovered and as days went by, everyone became busy with their own lives (it was understandable) and the visitors slowly stopped coming, making do with phone calls.
But Sama didn’t mind. For two weeks, she and her husband had been shown all the love and care they could ever hope for. And anyways, it had been a pleasant revelation to Sama (and her husband), that she was quite the independent and confident woman, so different from the shy girl who had moved to the city from a little town, to live with her husband. From running about to buying medicines and operation theatre replacements, to getting the nurse to check on his stats regularly, she was a well oiled machine in motion.
It had been close to three weeks after his surgery and doctors had recommended they stay on for at least another month for observations and tests. She definitely didn’t mind being cooped up in the room or becoming a well known face at the hospital, but her practical husband had advised her to go about the place, take a walk outside and get some fresh air. Though excited, she was still scared to venture out alone. But her husband’s confidence in her boosted hers and she did.
Five minutes at a time, she increased her walking duration and her confidence. Taking in gulps of fresh air and reveling in the joy of being freed from inhibitions, she slowly began enjoying her walks. The sights, sounds and smells of the bustling street a far cry from the silence and sanctity of the hospital. The smells of freshly woven jasmine flowers, rose garlands, mingled with the delicious aroma of freshly fried raw banana bajjis, and the smell of camphor from the temple all filled her with a sense of contentment, reminding her of her childhood and her carefree adolescent days. The people were mostly engrossed in their own work, or simply looked past her, which was the way it was in the cities (she had learnt after her marriage). But, she didn’t mind that. It gave her an opportunity to observe them. And it was during one of these walks that she encountered the couple.
They were very old. The woman could have easily been past her eighties and the old man was definitely older than his wife. But, he stood at the fringe of a bus stop (identifiable by the restless crowd all looking in the same direction, three pushcarts selling hot steaming idlis, crushed ice lollies and freshly squeezed sweet lime juice, and not by any sign) with a bowl in his hand, trying to make eye contact with the passers by, to help pay for a day’s meal, perhaps. Sama’s eyes met his, and she heard his plea. She wasn’t sure if it was the ‘oldness’ or the quick checking glances she had observed the old man give his handicapped wife every few minutes, but her heart melted. Buying two neatly packed idlis (with chutney and sambar), she gave one each to the old man and his wife. There was no reaction from the woman, but the old man’s eyes shone with gratitude and there was probably a smile beneath his thick white beard.
It became a routine. For the rest of the month, every day, she would buy this couple their day’s meal and go back to the hospital to recount the tales of the evening to her hospital bound husband. Now, two months and eight days later, after the doctor had given the go ahead for her husband to go home for the rest of the compulsory rest period, Sama stood bright and happy, looking forward to going back to the comfort and convenience of her home, the mango tree in the backyard and her potted plants (which her neighbors were watering everyday). In the joy of the moment, she remembered nothing else, but her husband did. So after some discussion, Sama and her husband decided to do something about the old couple’s daily meal.
***
Raju saw the ‘madam’ give the pack of idlis to the old couple, as she had done so for the past few weeks. He had sold her the food. What a nice person she was. And he knew, that seeing a well dressed lady such as her buy from his shop, several others too had joined his list of customers and he had begun doing pretty well. In fact, he had become so busy that he had to ‘employ’ a young chap every evening to help clean up the dishes. Yes, the past few weeks had been good for his business. And now, this kind lady had given him one thousand rupees and had requested him to continue feeding the couple as before (and insisted that he not tell them who their benefactor was). She was to come back in two month’s time, which would be enough to sponsor their food for another period of time. Kindness was truly divine and this lady was an angel.
***
Sama shielded the sun from her eyes. Her husband, much better than before, turned the ignition off and joined his wife to scan the street for the old couple. There was no sign of them. Raju and his pushcart were missing too. Sama was a little disappointed, her husband could tell, and he gave her a knowing look. They had done what they could. As Sama and her husband were getting back into the car, they heard a ‘madam, MADAM’ and instinctively turned towards the voice. It was Raju. Panting and puffing, he approached the couple.
For three days, he had given the old couple their daily ration of idlis. On the fourth day, they were nowhere to be seen. He embarrassedly told Sama, that he waited for a week before he did what he did. There was a tiny block of place available for rent close by, so he used the money that Sama had given him, along with some of his savings and rented it. He now sold ‘tiffin’, ‘tea, coffee’ and some odd bits and ends like biscuits and sweets. He was doing alright. Yes, much better than before. He felt guilty, he said, for using the money meant for a charitable purpose. And he hoped that the couple didn’t think he was a crook.
Sama’s husband looked at her and she looked down. After what seemed like a very long time, she looked at Raju square in the eye and said, “If you were a crook, you would have never come running to tell us all this.” Raju’s conscience was appeased and Sama went back home feeling glad that the world still had conscientious people.
***
And what happened to the old couple? Sama was not the only one to observe them. A kindhearted gentleman contacted a local old age home run by the Missionaries of Charity which offered them a place to stay and spend their last days in dignity. The old man gladly accepted for himself and his wife. And now, enjoyed more than just one meal a day and more than just idli!
***
Idli
It had been two months and eight days since the hospital had become her home. It had been that long since her husband had come home with the fever, complained of uneasiness and later that night had had his first heart attack. Sama always wondered where she had got the strength, both physical and mental, to cope with the situation (being a spiritual person, she knew the answer, but wondered nevertheless). She could never believe how she, a blissfully ignorant home maker, had found the presence of mind to call the ambulance, pack up important things, withdraw money and bring along his health insurance card. The support she got was stupendous. Friends, family, her husband’s colleagues would be there day and night to show their support. Her husband slowly recovered and as days went by, everyone became busy with their own lives (it was understandable) and the visitors slowly stopped coming, making do with phone calls.
But Sama didn’t mind. For two weeks, she and her husband had been shown all the love and care they could ever hope for. And anyways, it had been a pleasant revelation to Sama (and her husband), that she was quite the independent and confident woman, so different from the shy girl who had moved to the city from a little town, to live with her husband. From running about to buying medicines and operation theatre replacements, to getting the nurse to check on his stats regularly, she was a well oiled machine in motion.
It had been close to three weeks after his surgery and doctors had recommended they stay on for at least another month for observations and tests. She definitely didn’t mind being cooped up in the room or becoming a well known face at the hospital, but her practical husband had advised her to go about the place, take a walk outside and get some fresh air. Though excited, she was still scared to venture out alone. But her husband’s confidence in her boosted hers and she did.
Five minutes at a time, she increased her walking duration and her confidence. Taking in gulps of fresh air and reveling in the joy of being freed from inhibitions, she slowly began enjoying her walks. The sights, sounds and smells of the bustling street a far cry from the silence and sanctity of the hospital. The smells of freshly woven jasmine flowers, rose garlands, mingled with the delicious aroma of freshly fried raw banana bajjis, and the smell of camphor from the temple all filled her with a sense of contentment, reminding her of her childhood and her carefree adolescent days. The people were mostly engrossed in their own work, or simply looked past her, which was the way it was in the cities (she had learnt after her marriage). But, she didn’t mind that. It gave her an opportunity to observe them. And it was during one of these walks that she encountered the couple.
They were very old. The woman could have easily been past her eighties and the old man was definitely older than his wife. But, he stood at the fringe of a bus stop (identifiable by the restless crowd all looking in the same direction, three pushcarts selling hot steaming idlis, crushed ice lollies and freshly squeezed sweet lime juice, and not by any sign) with a bowl in his hand, trying to make eye contact with the passers by, to help pay for a day’s meal, perhaps. Sama’s eyes met his, and she heard his plea. She wasn’t sure if it was the ‘oldness’ or the quick checking glances she had observed the old man give his handicapped wife every few minutes, but her heart melted. Buying two neatly packed idlis (with chutney and sambar), she gave one each to the old man and his wife. There was no reaction from the woman, but the old man’s eyes shone with gratitude and there was probably a smile beneath his thick white beard.
It became a routine. For the rest of the month, every day, she would buy this couple their day’s meal and go back to the hospital to recount the tales of the evening to her hospital bound husband. Now, two months and eight days later, after the doctor had given the go ahead for her husband to go home for the rest of the compulsory rest period, Sama stood bright and happy, looking forward to going back to the comfort and convenience of her home, the mango tree in the backyard and her potted plants (which her neighbors were watering everyday). In the joy of the moment, she remembered nothing else, but her husband did. So after some discussion, Sama and her husband decided to do something about the old couple’s daily meal.
***
Raju saw the ‘madam’ give the pack of idlis to the old couple, as she had done so for the past few weeks. He had sold her the food. What a nice person she was. And he knew, that seeing a well dressed lady such as her buy from his shop, several others too had joined his list of customers and he had begun doing pretty well. In fact, he had become so busy that he had to ‘employ’ a young chap every evening to help clean up the dishes. Yes, the past few weeks had been good for his business. And now, this kind lady had given him one thousand rupees and had requested him to continue feeding the couple as before (and insisted that he not tell them who their benefactor was). She was to come back in two month’s time, which would be enough to sponsor their food for another period of time. Kindness was truly divine and this lady was an angel.
***
Sama shielded the sun from her eyes. Her husband, much better than before, turned the ignition off and joined his wife to scan the street for the old couple. There was no sign of them. Raju and his pushcart were missing too. Sama was a little disappointed, her husband could tell, and he gave her a knowing look. They had done what they could. As Sama and her husband were getting back into the car, they heard a ‘madam, MADAM’ and instinctively turned towards the voice. It was Raju. Panting and puffing, he approached the couple.
For three days, he had given the old couple their daily ration of idlis. On the fourth day, they were nowhere to be seen. He embarrassedly told Sama, that he waited for a week before he did what he did. There was a tiny block of place available for rent close by, so he used the money that Sama had given him, along with some of his savings and rented it. He now sold ‘tiffin’, ‘tea, coffee’ and some odd bits and ends like biscuits and sweets. He was doing alright. Yes, much better than before. He felt guilty, he said, for using the money meant for a charitable purpose. And he hoped that the couple didn’t think he was a crook.
Sama’s husband looked at her and she looked down. After what seemed like a very long time, she looked at Raju square in the eye and said, “If you were a crook, you would have never come running to tell us all this.” Raju’s conscience was appeased and Sama went back home feeling glad that the world still had conscientious people.
***
And what happened to the old couple? Sama was not the only one to observe them. A kindhearted gentleman contacted a local old age home run by the Missionaries of Charity which offered them a place to stay and spend their last days in dignity. The old man gladly accepted for himself and his wife. And now, enjoyed more than just one meal a day and more than just idli!
***
Idli
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