Small Story 248.

Small Story 248 The Circle of Kindness Shyam was waiting anxiously at the bus stop to go to school. That morning, the bus was unusually late, and he was getting restless. Today was the Maths test, and it was the first period. Their teacher, Ms. Rekha, was known for being very strict, especially with latecomers. Shyam, a 10th-grade student, was among the top three in his class of 32 and didn’t want to spoil his record. Just then, a car stopped in front of him. A well-dressed young man with a charming smile greeted him. “I think you’re waiting for the bus to go to school. I’m heading that way—would you like a lift?” Shyam hesitated. His father, Ram, had always advised him never to accept help from strangers. The man noticed his hesitation and gently said, “I understand your concern. But since I’m going that way and it looks like you're getting late, I thought of offering help.” After a moment of thought, Shyam cautiously agreed and got into the car. He reached school just in time and thanked the man, who introduced himself as Chander before driving away. Shyam did well in the test and was more relieved about reaching on time. The next day, while playing cricket with his friend Shekhar in his apartment complex, he noticed Chander again. Chander smiled and invited Shyam to his home nearby. There, Shyam was greeted warmly by Chander’s mother, an elderly woman of about sixty. Chander mentioned how Shyam had hesitated to accept a ride, and praised his upbringing. Shyam replied, “My dad always taught me to be cautious with strangers.” Chander’s mother, Revathy, offered him sweet biscuits and tea. This time, Shyam accepted without hesitation, sensing a comforting warmth in her presence. After a pleasant visit, he thanked her and left. A few days later, Shyam’s father, Ram, a respected physician, was at his hospital when Chander arrived with his mother for a consultation. Upon examination, Ram diagnosed her with an early stage of carcinoma. He assured them of a good recovery with proper treatment. Under Dr. Ram’s care, Revathy’s health improved. Grateful for his kindness, Chander developed a bond with Ram, and one day, Ram invited them for tea at his home. That evening, Ram’s wife Nandhini prepared her favorite sweets—Gulab Jamun—along with snacks. When Shyam returned home from school and saw Chander and his mother, he was delighted. He shared the story of how Chander had helped him on the test day. Nandhini thanked Chander, while Chander, in turn, expressed deep gratitude to Ram for saving his mother. As they sat together, Chander whispered to Ram, “A small act of kindness—just giving Shyam a ride—came back to me in such a big way.” Ram smiled and nodded, “When you do good for others, it always finds its way back. Respect and kindness never go unnoticed.” K.Ragavan 17-5-25