A Good Deed

I have always felt that a single good deed in life can pave the way for blessings not just for oneself, but for one’s children as well. My story comes from my days in the police force, a time when officers had very limited resources. We often traveled on our own horses, and whenever we went home on leave, government-issued rifles were collected from us. For self-defense, we carried only daggers or similar small weapons.

About six months after joining, I was preparing to go to my village on leave. The Commissioner cautioned me, “It’s already dark, and the path to your village passes through dense forests. Leave in the morning.” Yet my heart was restless at the thought of seeing my wife and children. I replied, “Sir, I have spent a lifetime wandering these paths and valleys. The soil, the trees, and the forest itself are my friends.” The Commissioner smiled at my words.

The weather was beautiful, and my horse galloped swiftly along the forest path. As I entered the woods, I slowed him slightly. These woods held fond memories from my childhood. Though distant from my village, my friends and I used to come here every week, playing, bathing in the streams, climbing trees, and eating fresh fruit. The memories brought a smile to my face.

Suddenly, I heard a child laughing. Startled, I gently tapped my horse, signaling him to stop. Well-trained, he obeyed without making a sound. My curiosity pushed me to investigate the source of the laughter. Behind thick bushes, I spotted a small, round, charming child, alone and playing.

Then, unexpectedly, a wolf appeared from behind a tree. It nudged the child playfully with its snout, and the child laughed uncontrollably. The wolf then ran behind the tree. I knew wolves, by nature, often play with a child before harming them, as if fulfilling a cruel instinct. I could have attacked the wolf with my dagger, but I did not want to risk the child’s safety.

I quickly formulated a plan. As soon as the wolf hid behind the tree, I leapt toward the child, grabbed him, and dashed to my horse. I mounted and urged the horse into a full gallop. The child cried continuously, frightened by the sudden chaos. After crossing the forest, I stopped to calm him and placed him safely in front of me on the horse.

I then guided the horse toward a nearby village. Soon, I saw a group of people with torches walking in one direction. I called out to them, asking about the child. A man, with a previously worried face, ran toward the child, calling him “Guddo!” The child immediately ran into his father’s arms. The man embraced him tightly, tears of joy streaming down his face. I dismounted and explained the entire incident to the villagers. The father clung to my feet, overwhelmed with gratitude.

He begged me to tell his wife of the rescue, as she had fainted in worry and was still unconscious. Other villagers agreed with him. I smiled and said, “My brothers, I need nothing. Your happiness is a priceless gift for me. Just remember me in your prayers.”

Since my own parents had passed away, I had always held deep respect for all parents. By nightfall, I bid everyone farewell and returned to my village. Years later, for the sake of my children’s future, I left my police job and sold my village property to move to the city. Yet the man I had saved never forgot me. Twice a year, he would visit, bringing seasonal fruits, jaggery, dried fruits, and gifts for my children. Despite my protests, he insisted, always recalling my act of kindness with tears in his eyes.

Today, I live a prosperous life. My two sons are civil engineers, and my daughter is a doctor. I often feel that a single act of kindness not only saved a child but also smoothed the path for my own children’s success.