Pass it forward!

Wow! I stand back in awe as I wonder what an amazing day(yesterday) was. My husband had a holiday. So we decided to go forward to inquire about my income tax refund status, that has been pending for quite a while now. We began early morning, left our little one at her grandparents home and left for the day. In the bus that we first boarded from Thane to Mulund, there was this lady passenger cribbing and shouting at the conductor for arriving late. After which a rude conversation followed. The result: This frustration was effortlessly transferred to many others in the bus.

We had to reach the Income Tax Office and Joe was all the time accessing his GPS system on the cell. But even as we got into the second BEST bus from Mulund, after leaving baby at our parents home...the universal GPS system began functioning over us. By the Universal GPS system, I mean God's Provisional System. We took a 20 rupee ticket. Thanks to this initiative by the BEST...we were able to travel throughout the day in 5-6 buses to and fro. This bus conductor we met, was rather calm and composed. Even as people pour their frustration on him, he chose not to retaliate and remained quiet. He was kind enough to guide us and asked us not to get down at Mahim bus-stop, but to rather get down at the Kurla Depo.

He reminded us when the stop came and even as we were heading towards the exit door...he yelled out 'The stop below the bridge'. As per his guidance, we went towards the stop and got a 310 which took us right outside 'The Income Tax office building' (BKC). Unlike most government operations that normally take hours to get done ...we were being led and found ourselves outside Bldg C 10, 1st floor-enquiry officer's room. When we opened the door, we found no one there, just an empty room with the lights and fan working.

Hmmm...Joe & I wondered how careless people working in Government offices were, unlike a private firm. Anyways...in just a few seconds a man wearing a light coloured shirt, blue jeans, and sports shoes...entered the room. He signalled us to come in. I showed him the file and asked that we came to ask about the refund status. He went through the documents, entered the file number on the pc... and made the online entry. He then answered politely that the cheque will reach us in the next 10-15 days. Praise God. What a relief that was! We do not know whether we will get it that early...but on a whole, the conversation and the climax was quite pleasing.

In less than 15 minutes we were done and began our journey back home. Got a 310 bus and as we were nearing the stop.. my sandal broke. Hmmm....tried walking but couldn't ....so took the sandals off, held them in my hands and headed towards the door. As we were moving towards the door of the double decker bus, the conductor said "There is a cobbler near the bus-stop." As we got down and began walking, all eyes were on me. Of course it will be, as I was walking on wet land bare-foot. So I just decided to continue walking without looking at anyone. Suddenly, a young man stopped by and directed us again to the cobbler. Just took 3-4 steps more and a little boy stopped and said 'Mocchi( cobbler) paas mein hain." Hmm...we just smiled at each other at how GPS (God's Provisional System) was shining over us that day. WOW...the cobbler mend my sandals and we headed to the next bus-stop. As we were crossing the road, I happened to see a 2-3 year old boy... holding his Father's hands. When I looked down at his feet I was sad...coz the little boy was barefoot. My heart cried. Atleast I had one...though it was broken some time back.

The very reason I chose to pen this down is because...I give a lot of importance to these minute details of my life...coz I look at it as something that happens with a purpose. Well...at the end when we reached home, I actually got a beautiful pair of golden sandals... as Joe's mom wasn't wearing it...and above all our foot size was the same. :-) So she gave it to me.

These good deeds that others bestowed on us...will be passed over by us to someone else. The bus conductor, the passer by, the little boy, the government officer, the cobbler, Joe's mom could have behaved differently...but they chose to take a small step. And small steps is all that takes to add a little bit of happiness in somebody's life. We were the beneficiaries yesterday. We will pass it forward and someone else will smile. All thanks to those few people who choose to act differently.

Bye. Till I write again. God bless.