Dear Old Man,
Torn faded clothes, full of mud and
dust
If I saw you elsewhere, I may have looked away in disgust
But that day I needed you
You were my last hope
For a second I resisted
I didn’t even look at you directly
You did all the talking, and
Didn’t even try to bargain
I was ready with my speech
But I suddenly realised
There is no need
You agreed for the bare minimum
Just then I noticed the smile
Red, white and yellow
But still so honest and warm
Not for a second,
I could look away
Where did the ugliness go?
I didn’t know
Just then I noticed your voice
Oh so mellow and full of wise
The warmth filled my core
And made me glow
I forgot the suffering
And went with the flow
You did your job
Job that needed no talking
Work that needed no personal touch
I extended the money, but
You folded your hands and refused to
take it
That second you were richer, than
the richest person on earth
You came forward
Extending your hand towards my head
A gesture to pass on blessings
I nodded with tears in my eyes
I didn’t know why I cried
Only thing I knew was
Just then I was the richest person on
earth
Just then I had met my angel
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I was 9 months pregnant and was
supposed to travel to my parents’ place. I was heavy and due to various reasons
I could barely walk. We reached the station late and at the last moment our
train had changed tracks. We were to cross over to the other side of the
station, through a foot over bridge but it was impossible for me to do so. The
only other way was to cross over through the tracks at the back but the
distance was too long for me to walk. We needed a wheel chair. It was late in
the night and there was no one around to help us find a wheel chair. Suddenly
an old man appeared with a wheel chair who agreed to help us. We discussed the
money and he readily agreed to what we offered. I agreed to go with him alone
through the other side, since my husband had to carry the entire luggage; we
decided he would cross over through the bridge. It has been almost 6 years but I still
remember his face. I was scared of him initially. But within a few seconds he
started talking and I was at ease completely. We crossed the track and I didn’t
even realise. I said thank you to him and took out the money to give him. Not
only did he refuse to take the money but he also extended his hands and with a
very gentle voice blessed me. Even before I could say anything, he left. After
a few months, my husband went back to the station to look for him. He wanted to
pay him his dues. But no one had heard of him or seen him there ever. It was
like he never existed. Many may not believe me (like my husband) but I know he
was my angel. He was my Govind.
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I am participating in the 30 Days Letter Challenge where you write one letter each day. The 6th in the list is a letter to "A Stranger"
