By Aabha Ghuli
I make my way towards the grocery store, take my place in the line.
I feel a tug, my wallet gone, empty is the pocket of mine.
“STOP!” I scream, swiftly, turn my head.
I look and run, away from the grocery shed.
There he runs, dodging others, the thief.
Then, oh! twists his leg, falls down, to my disbelief.
Stretching my hand, I offer help.
A stranger nearby says, “Welp, let him be punished, haul your wallet out.”
“Shouldn’t we help all, irrespective of action?” said I. Then the stranger shouts:
“NO! Be rude to rude, kind to kind.”
‘If others are rude, it doesn’t end the cycle. If others are kind, copy that thought. Oh! Never mind."
And, I went on, walking.
My chain of thoughts, broken by the rumbling tummy.
I then realise my hunger, slowly and eventually.
A huge doughnut shop,
I feel excited, my mind doing a happy hop.
Then I realise the emptiness of my pocket.
Just after, I’m saved by my friend, Mr. Brownbay Rocket.
He lends me some money.
I buy a doughnut of vanilla and honey.
Then, I see, a boy, poor and ragged,
With his large, pleading eyes and clothes that sagged.
Without a thought, I give my doughnut in his hand.
He smiles, a grateful smile, which I can understand.
Then, Brownbay, my friend, yells out loud and clear -
“OH! You fool, what will you eat? Don’t you have the fear of an empty stomach?” Then he storms away.
But at least a hungry stomach was filled,
Somebody’s, not mine, but still.
Again, I continued walking.
Soon, overcrowded was the street.
People, people, one could not see one’s feet.
I bend to tie my shoelace, “Oh! careful!” I say,
As a woman pushes me deliberately, and then hurries away.
A stranger nearby said, “What! Just a polite ‘be careful’? She pushed you!”
I asked innocently “Well, then what should I do?”
The stranger said, “A push is faced with a hit, not words, this you should know.”
“But we should respond, not react,” said I. “OH!”
And I continued walking.
To everyone, I had been kind.
But every stranger just tells - Don’t mind.
'Cause kindness doesn’t work every time,
Remember this for a lifetime.
But, I felt happy within for whatever I did.
It gave me happiness, a feeling of which I could never get rid.
I thought it was pleasing people in need,
Or pleasing your heart, because to happiness and kindness are all where it's headed.