A Unique Experience

It was a cold and windy night. My friend and I had met after a long time, and were chatting
for hours. We did not notice the time passing by, and soon it was close to ten in the night. We
decided to take an auto rickshaw to go to our house.
It started raining, and we hurried to get into an auto rickshaw and reach our place. None of
the auto rickshaws stopped for us, except one.
The driver asked us where we wanted to go and we told the place. Without saying anything
about the fare, he said, “Please get in!” We thanked him and got in.
Since it was very cold, I asked the driver to stop at any small restaurant or a tea shop. We
wanted to have a cup of hot tea. The driver stopped near a small restaurant.
We ordered tea, and asked the driver to join us and have a cup of tea. The driver refused. I
insisted, but he refused again politely.
My friend asked, “Will you not take tea from this shop or what?”
The driver replied, “No Sir, I don’t feel like having tea now.”
I asked again, “But, why? A cup of tea will do no harm.”
Smiling, the driver replied, “Thank you sir, but I’m sorry.”
My friend asked, “Are you against eating or drinking outside?”
The driver said, “No!”
I was really surprised at his behavior and asked my friend not to compel him.
In 15 minutes, we reached our house. We paid the fare and the driver thanked us.
On an impulse, I stopped him, as I really wanted to ask him why he refused to drink tea with
us at the restaurant.
He thought for a moment and replied, “Sir, my son passed away this noon in an accident. I
don’t have enough money for his funeral. So I took a vow not to drink even water, until I earn
enough money for my son’s funeral. That’s why I didn’t drink tea when you offered. Please
don’t misunderstand.”
We both were shattered and offered him more money for his son’s funeral.
He politely refused, “Thank you for your generosity sir. In one or two hours, if I get one or
two more customers, I will earn the money I need.” And he left the place.
We were amazed at his strength of character and integrity.
 Money Vs Family
He works for more than 16 hours a day. The kids cannot see him as he will leave home early
in the morning before they wake-up and reach home around midnight when kids would sleep
every day. The entire family eagerly wait to spend quality time with him and the kids miss
him so much.
The children were too curious about Sundays as his father would spend the entire day with
them. Unfortunately, to meet the increasing household expenses and educational expenses,
Rama took a weekend job to work even on Sundays. The kids were very shattered and even
Rama’s wife and parents too!
The typical routine continued for several weeks and year passed. All the hard work of Rama
earned a lot of benefits and he was offered promotion with attractive increment.
The family moved to a new house, got better clothes and ate healthy foods. However, as
usual, Rama continues to earn more and more money. One day his wife asked him ‘why are
you running for money? We can be happy with what we have now.’
Rama replied, ‘I want to give the best available in the world to all of you and want you to
stay happy always.’
Two years passed and Rama hardly spent time with his family. The children yearned to have
their father at home. Meanwhile, the sincere efforts of Rama reaped him a fortune. He was
offered partnership and share in profits. He continued to earn more and more wealth.
Now, Rama’s family is one of the richest families in the city. They have all the facilities and
luxuries. Still, Rama’s children strove to meet their father as he was hardly seen at home.
His children turned teens and they are no more kids. Now, Rama earned enough wealth to
provide a luxurious life to his next five generations.
Rama’s family went to their beach house to spend their vacation. His daughter asked, ‘Dad
will you please spend one day at home and stay with us here?’
Rama replied, ‘Yes darling, tomorrow for sure, I will join you for the lunch and be with you
all for next few days. I’m tired of work and need refreshment!’
The entire family became very happy.
Unfortunately, the next day, none in Rama’s family were alive as they were washed out in
Tsunami!
Rama was too busy even to hear the news about Tsunami. When he tried to reach his beach
house, he saw sea and water everywhere and screamed for his family, He could not even find
the dead bodies of his family.
He can never have them again, cannot even see them and even by paying millions he cannot
get them back to life!
He remembered his wife’s words, ‘Why are you running for money? We can be happy with
what we have now.’
Money can’t buy everything!
 We Have Been Friends Together
Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Norton

We have been friends together,

In sunshine and in shade;
Since first beneath the chestnut-trees
In infancy we played.
But coldness dwells within thy heart,
A cloud is on thy brow;
We have been friends together—
Shall a light word part us now?

We have been gay together;

We have laugh'd at little jests;
For the fount of hope was gushing
Warm and joyous in our breasts.
But laughter now hath fled thy lip,
And sullen glooms thy brow;
We have been gay together—
Shall a light word part us now?

We have been sad together,

We have wept, with bitter tears,
O'er the grass-grown graves, where slumber'd
The hopes of early years.
The voices which are silent there
Would bid thee clear thy brow;
We have been sad together—
Oh! what shall part us now?
 I Love My Family So Much

To be a part of a family like mine

is so divine
where love is shown
hurt is shared
our love for each other is never impaired

we talk
we laugh
we cry
but we are a family
and we do it all together
for as a family
we do it all as one

you hurt one

you hurt all
and as a family unit
we will all stand tall
for we are family
a family full of strength
a family full of love
a family no one can touch
that's why I love my family so much.
Reflection