Lessons.

"Life is Beautiful". This simple line says so much. There is so much beauty around us, but we have fallen into trap of so many wants we fail to realize the gifts we have.
Some of the gifts and the responsibilities associated to it, are reminded to us by simple and unexpected lessons. One such Lesson was handed over to me and I thank God who made it happen. It was on 19th August, 1998 when I was in my Engineering second year. Brash and arrogant I was, as I was studying in College of Engineering, Osmania University the number one college in Andhra Pradesh and being a localite.
There is a local railway station Jamia Osmania, behind the University campus which connects to Secunderabab. Favorite pastime was to bunk college, get into the local train and zoom off to Secunderabad. Never bothered about buying ticket as no one used to dare to ask anything to Osmania student. Once the TT asked for tickets and I threatened him by saying will throw him out of the train, after that he never came near me. The ticket money could be used for an extra chaai or cigarette…why waste on silly things as tickets!!

Over the railway tracks, construction of a flyover was started. As usual, on 19th August, I was waiting for the train and could hear its sweet whistle as it was approaching the platform. Then I saw this kid, not more than 8yrs who used to work on the flyover, dart across the foot over bridge run towards the ticket counter, buy a ticket and then get into the train.
That one sight made me feel so small. Here I was doing my Engineering, and there was this hardworking illiterate kid who ran, bought ticket and then boarded the train. Who was more educated?
Now after many years and after doing my MBA am settled in a corporate job, but I see the same irresponsible behavior among most educated….throwing water bottles/trash from car, talking roughly with traffic constable, breaking traffic rules etc. Where is the sense of responsibility, caring? I tell them not to do so, but everyone should realize it and the realization would and will come, sooner or later!!
After being in couple of other cities, I have moved to Hyderabad and one day was zooming on the very same flyover. The feeling experienced was something awesome. Hope others get to experience it sooner as the World becomes a much better and lovely place then!!