Little things

Inspire and respect;

Today i came across this auto rickshaw with caption in telugu,

"pregnant women and handicap people can travel free of cost with me on my way'' 

How often do you see people trying to make their life meaningful?

In this blog I here by name him Aruna,(story purpose) so if you go back to Indian mythology, Aruna is the charioteer of Sun god. 

What made Aruna write this behind his vehicle? 

Was Aruna left in that situation?

Did something really bad happen?

STORY; Aruna 19 years old from very well knit family. His father Sambhu was physically handicap. Sambhu made his living by selling petty things. He had 2 children. Elder one Aruna and younger one Karana. Aruna's mother was a maid who worked for living in multiple homes. Working hard whole month and feeding their stomach with monthly wages was their way of living. Aruna had finished class 12 with 2 years of struggle. He did wanted to study more but due to high fees in the engineering colleges, Sambhu and Sunitha couldn't afford that amount because they had another child for whom they had to pay school fess too. 

Aruna after understanding his family situation went to his mother; Amma if i am not allowed to study further at least let me try earning some money. You know I can ride. why don't you buy me an auto rickshaw? I will make my living out of it and help appa in household finances too.

Amma replied; Aruna, its really good thought of yours that you want to help us and make your living but from where do we get auto for you to drive? 

Aruna; Amma I have a friend who has a garage, he said he had a rickshaw which was in good condition after few repairs and was selling in very less amount. I think this is great opportunity for us to buy. later after our savings will buy a new one. What say amma..

Amma; Okay Aruna will talk with appa and confirm.

Sambhu was very self esteemed person. He never let his family down just because he was handicap.He never allowed anyone to make him feel week. He worked very hard so that he would lead his life with respect. But to fulfill his son's aspiration gave it a thought.

After two days of discussion and arguments appa finally agreed. And so Aruna happily started pulling his rickshaw and started earning money. 

It was Aruna's routine to come home by 9:00 p.m along with his father picking him up from his small shop which was 4-5 km from their house.

It was gloomy night but moon was shining bright. Aruna had a great day pulling his rickshaw and making some good amount of money. It was past 8:45 p.m when Aruna called Appa, 

Appa I am starting, it will take 20-25 mins to come. You stay there Appa. I will come and pick you up.

Appa said; okay Aruna I am waiting come soon.

Aruna started back home, that's when he saw a lady holding her baby bump and crying aloud along with her mother for lift. Aruna became so resonant to her and stopped the rickshaw to help her. The hospital was again about 6 km. Appa came to his mind, if i have to go drop her and then pick appa it is going to take 45-50 mins. Therefore, it would be better to inform appa to take another rickshaw to get back home. And so Aruna called Appa;
Appa its going to be late for me to come and pick you up. It would be nice if you took another rickshaw and go back home. 

Appa said; Its okay Aruna i will handle you just take care and come home soon.

Appa closed the shutter of his small shop and came out with his walking aid. 

Appa looked at his watch it was 8:55 p.m. He came to main road asking for lift. But nobody stopped because its usual that everyone goes back home during this time and generally nobody would stop and look to help. Appa had 60 rupees in his pocket because today it didn't work out so well for him. An auto rickshaw stopped just after him bright under the street light. 

Apaa walked to him and asked; brother, can you come to Devarguda. Driver asked 100 rupees. Appa started to bargain but driver said it is past 9:00 p.m and charges are high. I stopped because you are handicap and you are on my way back home. Appa again requested him to take him but he denied and said I will not take you for anything less that 100 rupees.

With this appa felt disrespected and his ego hurt and decided to walk back home with all his due respect left for himself.

Aruna meanwhile dropped the lady and the mother at the hospital. He took the lady inside on the stretcher and dropped her and came to his rickshaw. They didn't have so much time to even thank him because the lady was in so terrible labor pain. But Aruna with a smile on his face left the hospital happily to home thanking God for giving him opportunity to help the duo.

After reaching home; Amma, did appa reach home? Amma replied; no not yet I thought you were going to pick him up. Aruna; Amma its past 9:45 i told Appa around 9:00 p.m to get home by any other means because i was little busy.

Amma; then go now and see if he is still waiting for you. 

Aruna leaves the house and rushes to the rickshaw and pulls. He directly goes to the shop but to his conscience the shop was closed and appa was not there. Aruna searched for minimum 10 minutes he didn't find appa anywhere around. He then drove to the main road and thought to give a call to appa. He rang the call, but he heard the ringtone of his fathers phone nearby. Aruna got down the rickshaw and walked when the ringtone frequency increased. His knees shook he couldn't stand his ground by seeing the scene in front of him. He saw appa laying on the footpath in supine position. Aruna went closer to shake his father and wake him up. He screamed appa its me wake up lets get home. He carried appa to his rickshaw and drove to hospital.

The night was long which nobody knew how long it would take. 

After admitting Appa, Aruna called Amma and Karuna telling what happened.

After few minutes doctor came out and said; appa was no more as he suffered a severe heart attack. He would have been saved if you had brought him earlier. 

I didn't know how to react, I came to same hospital just few hours before to help a lady deliver her child and now Am here taking back my Appa's death message.

This incident changed Aruna's life forever. He continued pulling his auto rickshaw. He never felt guilty for any of the happenings as they were not in his hand. Had he left the lady and what if nobody saved her? Aruna's situation might have become hers till now. Thinking this he lead his life that somehow he was helpful to someone and would always help further too.

 In memory of his father and the day that happened, he wrote that caption on his auto rickshaw.

Did this happen? or, Did nothing happen? 

If at all nothing happened and still, would he write this caption? If he had picked up his father early, reached back home in time even after helping the lady deliver her child and wrote this as a caption. Wouldn't it be so nice?

Can everyone make a life inspiring and help others without past experiences? 

Does experience matter to help others? What if everyone helped each other and made help as an experience?

What if the miser driver who stopped by didn't cling for more money. Had he helped appa, he would be happily having chapati along with curd at home.  

What if Aruna wrote this as a caption after seeing somebody else's rickshaw? Many things can happen and my imagination doesn't stop here.

What if this whole world imagined things and helped others if not just for inspiring but to be inspired with others livelihood. 

Remember most of the handicap don't need sympathy but respect for their doings. They will never take sympathy or pity for their character. 

Don't feel sorry for what happened but respect for what might have happened.

Life is all about inspiring and respecting. Both of these value so much to any life because both are interlinked. If you make your living inspiring you are automatically respected. Isn't it?

You don't have to be someone great to inspire people. Even small lives inspire and so today looking at this auto rickshaw, I feel;

Live a life to inspire and worthy enough to live on this planet. 

"You aren't a failure if you don't inspire but if you don't get inspired then you are a failure".