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A good deed is never left unexchanged or unreturned

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The bus was taking a short hault at the Don Bosco University bus stop. It was just another sunny afternoon, Paul was riding on the bus for nearly half an hour and he had another half an hour more to go on it. It was his usual route but in his not-so-usual time slot for traveling. He had to go home early so he had taken the rest of the day off. The bus was just about to leave, as the engines started roaring, an aged man with salt and pepper hair and extremely wrinkled face appeared at the door.

The elderly man was puffing and while trying to catch his breathe, he asked, "Does... this bus... go to... City centre?" The bus driver was busy adjusting the wheel and in his routine bus check before taking a move. The feeble voice hadn't made it through to the driver. He once again repeated his query, this time the driver heard it but still preoccupied in his business, with half mindedness he replied yes. Paul was seated in the first row near the door and was witnessing this. He understood that the man at the door waiting for his answer was a little hard at hearing too. So Paul signaled him to come in.

The elderly man climbed up the stairs and took his place next to Paul. Exhausted and relieved to be sitting down, he forgot to get his ticket.

The driver later turned back and asked, "Where to?"

"Umm.. Oh! I forgot. Wait let me think." He checked his shirt pocket and took out a chit and replied, "City centre! One ticket for City centre please."

"Metro or Bus stop, Sir?"

"Oh I didnt know two stops have the same name. Kind Sir, the stop which is nearer to Isabelle Hospital. I need to go over there."

By then three other passengers had gotten inside and had gone straight to the driver to get their tickets.

Unable to see the driver, he turned towards Paul and asked," Son, do you know which stop is closer to the Isabelle Hospital?"

" You need to go to the new one or the old one?", politely Paul asked.

"Holy God! Now dont tell me there are two hospitals also with the same name!", exclaimed the old man and slightly getting tensed.

"Hmmm ya. The new one is near the metro and the old one is near the bus stop."

"Which one comes first?", he asked wiping the precipitation formed on his forehead with his trembling hands.

On seeing his anxiety and trembling hands, Paul spoke to him in a calm tone, hoping that he would relax soon.

"The metro comes first where the new hospital is", he reminded him the hospital also, knowing very well that the kind old man in his anxiety attack would have forgotten it.

"Ok, new one comes first. Old one later. New one's near the metro." He repeated it and made a note in the same chit.

Paul waited for him to finish writing and then continued to say, " It would be safer to take the second stop- the bus stop one. Anyways both have the same cost, it's just that the stop name has to be printed on the ticket, I guess that's why the driver had asked which one. By the way, even if you want to get down one stop earlier it won't be an issue."

The old man looked up and lifted back his spectacles that was sitting on the edge of his nose.

" Yes my son, you are right!"

The driver had just completed attending to the other passengers and now he came back to the old man.

" Yes sir, where did you tell, you wanted to go?"

"Isabelle Hospital, I don't know which one. So for now I'll take the second stop one. City Center bus stop one. Correct?"

He turned to me and Paul gave a Confirmation nod.

"Okay, City center bus stop, here you go!", and gave the ticket to the old man.

The driver gave a quick glance to all the rear view mirror and side mirrors and the bus had taken a move.

The old man introduced himself as Henry and said, "Son, please tel. Me when my stop comes."

"Sure, Henry."

Still worried whether he'll get down at the right stop and reach the correct hospital properly. Henry was getting fidgety, sometimes digging into his backpack, cleaning his spectacles, wiping his face repeatedly due to profused sweating.

Paul could sense his neighbor's uneasiness and went on to say, "Don't worry uncle, I know this route well. You can rest and be assured that you'll get down at the correct stop."

"Thanks son. But my problem is I haven't traveled to this side of the city ever before. That's the reason my daughter who is hospitalised and my son-in-law didn't want me to come all the way all alone to visit."

He took a gulp of water and offered water to his copassenger and continued to express his thoughts.

" They say she is alright, there is no need to visit. But damn it, if she was alright she wouldn't have been in the hospital for past 3 days."

Paul was intently listening and nodding.

"How can I sit quietly when my precious is there. I know she needs me over there but circumstances are like this, they don't want me to strain. Damn it! My kids need me and more so ever my grandkids need me. Don't know what's going on in those two tiny brains seeing their mother like that. No one else is there, so I have to go. I just had to!", said Henry matter-of-factly.

" Hmmm, yes that's a Dad's love", smiled Paul.

"Don't worry sir, you'll meet your daughter soon and hope she gets well soon."

"Paul please do pray for her speedy recovery. I'm just waiting to see her and hug her. "

Moments passed by, two stops had passed. Henry was trying to call his son-in-law's number to check about the bus stop. But either it was going to someone else or not connecting. A steep speedbreakers came, as the bus moved over it, the mobile phone slipped from Henry's weak hands and fell.

Paul picked it up and asked, "Do you need any help uncle? I'm seeing you are trying to call.

" Oh ya. I'm trying either of their numbers to check which hospital, but it's not going through or I'm unable to hear. "

" No problem", Paul took the phone and asked, "How's number saved in your mobile, I'll call and connect you."

"It's the last number I dialled.... No no wait, I don't know whether it went to someone else. Could you please try the last incoming number?"

"Ok, yes it is. I think it's your daughter's number. Here."

"Both the phones will be with my son-in-law, so that won't be an issue, thank you."

"Hello.... hello... Hello....Steve, can you hear me Steve."

Paul had given the phone after knowing it had gone through and was looking at Henry's expression.

"Oh good you can hear me....

Steve, how are you and Stephanie doing?....

Good, I'm on the way to the hospital....

That's not a problem, see I was able to make it.....

Just tel me the hospital name....

Don't worry Steve, I'm alright"

Paul heard the one sided conversation and it was evident that Steve, his son-in-law was worried about Henry.

Henry too understood it and thought if Steve spoke to Paul and ensured him that he won't have problem in figuring out the stop, it would do good. He turned to Paul and asked if he could speak and check the bus stop.

"Hi Steve, this is Paul."

"Hi Paul. Sorry to disturb you."

"Oh, that's ok. I'm sitting next to Henry. You need not worry, I know the route and I'll make sure he gets down at the proper place."

"Thanks Paul. How is he doing? Is he alright?"

"Ya he is doing good. Just wanted to know whether it's the Isabelle old hospital or new one, he has to go to?"

"It's the old one. He has to get down at the city centre metro stop"

"Ok sure."

"Where are you'll now?"

"We just passed the Flower market."

"Ok. Good. If there is any issue, could you please call me."

"Sure..... Take care of yourself and wish Stephanie from my side too."

"Thanks alot. Is Henry there?"

"Yes, I'll give it to him, bye", said Paul and gave the phone back to Henry to speak.

They discussed each other's well being and confirmed the stop again.

"Thank you my son, if you weren't here, I don't know what would have happened. Thanks a ton for helping", Henry told Paul.

"It was nothing at all. It's good to see you relax a bit now."

Henry smiled and took out something from his backpack.

"Son, this is for you", he extended his hands with some good looking fleshy red skinned plums.

I was looking out of the window and turned towards him with a surprise.

"Please take it. They are fresh and juicy. I just plucked them from my very own garden this morning. My plums are very famous and it's an all time favourite of my grandkids.

" I am overwhelmed by your kind gesture, Sir, truly! But I cannot accept them, they are for your daughter and grandkids and I don't know how many you might have in there left for them."

"See, there are plenty for all to share. It's my way to thank you. Seriously you don't know what your small help did."

"Don't take me wrong, I'm so happy but it's a token of Dad's love for his ailing daughter. If you were not going to visit with the hospital with those plums, trust me I would have taken it."

"Now son don't upset me. Please take atleast two of them."

Paul had actually been cursing himself for not having lunch before starting out. During the journey he was praying that he reaches home faster, as he was feeling giddy from hunger and thrist. It was like a God given gift for his good deed. He would have taken it but he didn't want to take it away from the small kids. However seeing Henry's insistence, he gave in and took one medium sized plum.

"OK, I'll have it now, is it ok?"

"It's all yours my son. Hope you enjoy it."

One bite into it and the juice from the plum was so tasty. Paul 's taste buds had just woken up after starving for so long. That one delicious plum was more than enough for quenching Paul' s thrist and to subside his hunger for the remaining part of the journey.

Paul thanked Henry and praised his plums but didn't want to disclose about his hunger else he would have been persisted on parting with one more.

The traffic was on stand still for some time between flower market and the next stop. Around ten to fifteen minutes the bus had stalled over there.

There were numerous calls from Steve to check on the bus's whereabouts. Some calls were shared between Henry and Paul to reassure Steve. Steve decided to come to the bus stop to pick Henry up.

After half an hour, the bus was approaching the City Centre metro stop. Paul had informed Henry well ahead so that he could check if all his belongings were packed.

Through the window, Henry waved at Steve and spoke to Paul, "God bless you my son. Wish you all the happiness in the world and pink of health. Don't ever let your kindheartedness leave from you. Bye. Steve is waiting for me."

"Yes sure Henry, take good care of yourself. Bye!", Paul said and happy to see the worried old man who sat near him turn to a relax happy man on seeing his son-in-law.

Steve too waved at Paul after helping Henry get down and thanked him as the bus parted away.

Paul had a smile throughout his bus ride and was waiting to tell his wife back home about the most grateful bus ride ever in his life.

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The cycle of doing good things is a never ending process, just like a circle. Once you make a circle, you don't realize where was the starting point and where it will end.

Continue doing good things because there will always be a hand extended towards you to return/acknowledge your favour via handshake. Enjoy the process of keeping yourself happy and spreading happiness to others too. It's a package deal, don't let it go easily 😀

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