The Muddy Path of Kindness

This is the story of a teenage boy, just 14 years old, who always believed that kindness was about helping others in small ways. He would feed street dogs, even when his parents scolded him for it. He gave food to beggars, thinking that was the only way to be kind. But the meaning of kindness was about to change for him.

It was his first day of high school. The school was 30 kilometers away from his home, and he had to travel by public bus to get there. It was the rainy season, and the roads were in poor condition. The bus was crowded, and he didn't get a seat, but that didn’t dampen his spirits. He wore his new uniform with pride, a smile on his face, feeling a sense of freedom. After the bus ride, he had to walk 400 meters to reach his school.

As he got off the bus, the smile on his face faded. He looked down at his brand-new white shoes, now in jeopardy. The road ahead was a mess, full of mud and water. He carefully scanned the path, searching for dry spots where he could step without dirtying his shoes. Just as he was about to take his first step, he heard a voice.

"Hey, can you help me?"

A physically challenged man was struggling to push his cycle, which was stuck in the mud. The boy looked at him and hesitated. He didn’t want to dirty his shoes, and he was worried about how his classmates would react if he walked into class with muddy shoes and a dirty uniform. Without saying a word, he ignored the man's plea and walked away. There was an attitude in his step, a silent decision not to help, perhaps because he was unsure of what kindness truly meant in difficult situations.

A man from the roadside saw what had happened and rushed to help the struggling man. The boy noticed this, and suddenly, regret washed over him. He realized the mistake he had made. It was a small moment, but it stuck with him. Even after more than 20 years, he never forgot that incident.

From that day on, whenever he saw someone in need, he would help if he could. But questions lingered in his mind. Could he still be kind when it wasn’t comfortable for him? Would he share food with beggars or street dogs if he didn’t have enough for himself?

These questions stayed with him, a reminder that kindness isn’t always easy or convenient. It’s about doing the right thing, even when it’s difficult. And in that, he found the true meaning of kindness.