She had been standing there for a good ten minutes. Traffic flowed like a river
in flood. Never ceasing, fast and incessant. She had come to dread her morning trips to the market. Despite her years in the city
she hadn’t mastered the art of zigzagging through it all.
in flood. Never ceasing, fast and incessant. She had come to dread her morning trips to the market. Despite her years in the city
she hadn’t mastered the art of zigzagging through it all.
She waited on.. uncertain, scared.
Finally, she took a step forward and was greeted by a flurry of honks as a scooter whizzed by almost brushing her sari. The driver waved her back with an impatient look, like she had invaded his personal space. She stepped back guiltily.
She wiped her sweat, adjusted her glasses, shifted her bag to the other hand and readied to try again. A giant city bus
materialised blocking all else other than its dirty red as it creaked to an angry halt.
Flustered, she stepped back onto the footpath again.
materialised blocking all else other than its dirty red as it creaked to an angry halt.
Flustered, she stepped back onto the footpath again.
She looked around in part dread part fascination at other pedestrians making a dash through the chaos.
I cannot stay here forever, she reasoned. She straightened her shoulders and with a bravado that felt false to even to her own self, she stepped into the traffic. Within seconds she heard a car screech to a halt inches from her… horns blared, people cursed. She tried to look up but panic blinded her. Someone wrested her bag from
her hand, someone was grabbing her shoulder, propelling her forward. She tried to resist, but couldn’t.
her hand, someone was grabbing her shoulder, propelling her forward. She tried to resist, but couldn’t.
And then, in a flash, she was on the other side. Her bag was back in her hand. She stood breathing hard, heart hammering. “It’s alright,” said the young girl, “you’re fine”. Relief and gratitude brimmed over. She tried to focus, a thank you on her lips, but the girl had already melted in the crowd.
Sometimes it takes just a minute, just a tiny gesture to express it all.. tolerance, compassion, love.
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Linking to Write Tribe’s “Language of Love..”
Edited to add: Do check out this page here…
Random Acts of Kindness Week.
Random Acts of Kindness Week.
