Gratitude – #AtoZChallenge

 Mr. Roy was returning home after a hectic day at work. He felt relieved for having found a seat in an otherwise packed local train. This made him realise how late he was heading back home. 

Roy is a middle class man, who works as an assistant manager for a financial firm. He was an achiever during his student days, but is not really satisfied with his current position and stature. He is a happily married man, but the stress of providing a better life to his family never stops to haunt him.

He noticed countable number of people in the compartment, which was obvious during late nights, but never the case during the day. He counted the number of heads he could see, while pondering over an interview he attended last week. An interview for promotion which hardly occurs on a regular basis. The interview meant a lot to him, as he never got promoted since five years. All he could do was sigh in despair. 

While he was pre occupied with the if’s and but’s of his life situation, he tends to ignore his desire to eat out of hunger. However, hunger always triumphs over all odds, which made him look for a vendor on the train. He noticed a samosa vendor approaching towards his compartment and eagerly waited to satisfy his craving. 

The vendor looked pale with significant wrinkles and withered skin, showcasing his old age. “Good evening sir! How many do you want?”, requested the vendor with a smile on his face. “I’ll have two”, Roy responded while watching the vendor wrap samosas. The radiant smile on the vendor’s face, made Roy strike a conversation. 

“So, how were your sales? Did you make enough for the day?”, Roy enquired casually. “Today was not satisfactory sir, I’m trying to make it up by selling late in the night.”, replied the vendor while making himself comfortable on the floor of the moving train. “Is it hard? At this age?”, asked Roy intriguingly. 

The vendor’s face lit with delight as someone actually showed interest in him and not just his samosas. He replied saying, “I have a family to support. Children are studying. They depend on me, which does not make me think about age. It’s hard sometimes when needs are not met, but I’ve no complains! I’m very grateful to God for blessing me with a family to work for. I’m thankful that I’m hale and healthy, which gives an opportunity to work even at this age. What if I was ill and handicapped? How could I support someone depending on me? As long as I have the strength, I’m willing to work, pay for bills and my children’s education. Atleast I have a family to look forward to and work for!”

Roy was dumbstruck on hearing what the vendor said. He was amazed at the way an ordinary samosa seller perceived life with gratitude. Appreciating his thoughtful reply, Roy uttered, “You are a wise man! I hope you sell as many samosas as you wished to and lead a content life! I’ll have two more.”

 “Thank you sir! Here are your samosas. You have a good night!“, the vendor replied with a warm smile again and left the compartment. After a thought provoking conversation, Roy felt lighter. The thought about his interview result seems to be nowhere. He wondered how blessed he was when compared to the samosa selling old man and yet never realized his blessings. 

As his heart was filling with gratitude, he noticed the train halt at his station. He got down the train with a sense of completeness. “Someone is going to have a peaceful sleep tonight!”, echoed his satisfied soul.