Whispering Shadow

I decided to walk back home from the station since I had reached much before my usual time. It was the usual chaos on the street – crowded streets, traffic jams, blaring horns, screaming street vendors – loads of noise. And the usual remedy to the maddening noise is to shut it out with music from my iPod.  I was enjoying watching the pandemonium playing in mute, as I slithered through whatever little space which was available on the road. Finally, I was not thinking about anything but just walking. It had been a while since I manage to empty my mind. It was barely three songs before I reached my building, but I didn’t want to go. I decided to walk further away from home.  On my directionless stroll, I spotted three street urchins, cute little kids, between the ages of three to eight. In tattered clothes and unwashed bodies, they seemed to be a happy bunch. They had found their own little game with a few pebbles and self-created rules. But it didn’t matter to them as long as they we...

On my way to the bus stop today, I came across a sight that made me think that my life was not so bad after all. There was a lady, naked and extremely frail, by the road. She was moving on her hands, since she didn’t have one leg, and the other had been rendered powerless because of the lack of strength. She looked pale and exhausted. I wondered how long it will be before she becomes a victim of the awfully cold winters. I was getting late so didn’t stop to help her. It was like so many other times, where I have wanted to help, but chosen not to go out of my way in doing so. Will without action is futile. I know I am not indifferent, but I am also not proactive and forthcoming. I feel so useless. When I sat in the bus, I started feeling guilty. Yes, just as I do, on those numerous other occasions when I could have done something which means a little to me but could have done them a lot of good. I could have got her food to eat, given her some money, or got her an old t-shirt from home....