PEACE

 

Peace

No one is aware that life can give the change anytime. Shalini was very tense and restless,

one guilt was repeating repeatedly in her mind. That evening was having something

different, different from every single previous evenings she spent. She was still in trauma

and not able to settle.

Shalini was belonging from middle family. They were staying in metro city of Delhi. Her

father was retired from government office and mother was housewife. She was having two

siblings those were in college. She was the elder one and after retiring of her father she was

taking care of house.

Shalini has spent the normal life as middle family, having with big dreams. She was good in

study and after graduation got the job in good corporate company as admin officer. She was

always interested to earn more to maintain their family. She never squandering the time

and money and save the amount as stingy person.

She always taking care about sibling needs and parents. Her office was far around 20 km

from home. To reach the office, she has to walk 3 km to take bus and then 1 hour to travel.

She never think about her comfort and always walking 3 km both morning and evening

whatever the weather be.

Shalini was educated girl and belong from average family but she always took the advantage

whenever she got the chance. In her role as an administrative officer, she held various

responsibilities within the office. However, she often took small items, such as stationery

and pantry supplies, from the workplace. This habit occasionally led her to misappropriate

funds from the office's expense budget. Her boss was very gentle and trust on her but she

took the advantage whenever got the option.

She constantly lived in a state of anxiety due to her theft of items from the office. Her father

was a man of integrity, and she feared the consequences of being discovered. However, in

her desire to meet her family's needs, she began to take advantage of office supplies. She

was also aware that her family would not support her if they discovered what she was

doing.

That evening, she was commemorating her father's birthday. Overwhelmed with happiness,

she departed from work an hour ahead of schedule. She picked up some snacks from the

nearby market along with a Kurta for her father. Her willingness to spend on her family was

evident, as she displayed a generosity reserved solely for them, contrasting with her frugal

approach to her own expenses.

While she was juggling multiple bags, her purse unexpectedly slipped from her hand. A boy

called out, "Madam, Madam, please listen." She turned around to see a boy in a torn t-shirt

holding a large white plastic bag. It became clear to her that he was a rag picker, collecting

items from the street, and he was trying to get her attention because he had noticed the

abundance of food she was carrying.

She disregarded him and quickened her pace to evade the situation. However, the boy

called out again, “Madam, wait! Your purse!” Shalini was taken aback by the mention of

“your purse” and paused to check her hand. It dawned on her that her purse was indeed

missing. She turned around and saw the boy holding her purse.

The young boy remarked, "Madam, you dropped your purse outside of that shop, and I have

been trying to get your attention, but you haven't stopped." Shalini was surprised by his

straightforwardness, especially given his evident lack of resources. She replied, “I truly

appreciate your returning this to me, but I see you are in need as well. You had an

opportunity to keep it for yourself. Why did you choose to return it? You could have kept it

for yourself."

The boy responded, "Madam, I spend my entire day collecting waste from the streets and

earn approximately 300 rupees daily. However, that income brings me peace, and I prefer

not to take on the stress of acquiring others' belongings. I am content with what I earn for

myself and my family."

Shalini compelled him to accept a sum of money in exchange for his assistance before

returning home. However, the words of the boy continued to resonate in her mind

persistently.

Thanks for reading…