Several decades ago, Leela – a woman from a small town in India lived with her family of five close to the river Godavari. Her husband had a little farm and some livestock that barely sustained the family’s needs. Most of the time they lived hand to mouth, and Leela would make sure no food was thrown away. Any left overs got rolled into the dough Leela used to make her special stuffed triangular tortillas (parathas). Out of her goodness she would always made an extra tortilla – to feed the needy on a daily basis and kept it outside their window just before noon, for whoever might need one.

The truth can be bitter…

Chandu, a crusty old humpback who passed by their house every day noticed this and started helping himself to the tortillas regularly. Rather than be grateful and expressing thanks, he would pass a terse comment as he picked up the tortilla: “Your wrongs will stay with you, and haunt you; while the good deeds will return as positives in your life.” Leela heard this and ignored it remembering Kirit, her son – who had been gone too long. How joyful he would be if he was here, it was his nature to help others she would think.

Months went by and Leela became increasingly irritated with Chandu’s unending tirade. Unable to stand the perceived insults to her ego, she decided to teach him a lesson. She made a tortilla laced with poison, thinking that would be a befitting response to Chandu’s thanklessness. As she went to place it outside the window, inexplicably, she broke out with cold sweat and shivers went up her spine. Realizing her folly – she tossed the poisoned tortilla in the wooden stove and burnt it to ashes. What was I thinking, what was I doing – she muttered to herself. Repenting, she made another one in its place, while still plotting to get even somehow.

The sweetness is latent – behind the bitter words…

Chandu came by, picked it up as usual, and moved on; Leela continued with her chores and tending to her family’s livestock. Something just did not just feel right though, and occasional shivers lingered on. It was late afternoon, and the day seemed to drag. To calm herself down she went back in the kitchen to make her favorite Darjeeling tea. Just as she was getting started – there was knocking at the door. Mom, it’s me, Kirit.

Leela could not believe her ears. Kirit! “My son is back” – she ran and hugged him, tears of joy rolled down her cheeks. He was disheveled, and his clothes were torn, but that didn’t matter, he was back, alive, and well. After he freshened up, the two started to prepare supper; Leela was looking forward to re-living the experience of having the “whole” family at the dinner table again. As she made tortillas – Kirit narrated his experiences. He told her of his travels and tribulations over the last several months; places he had been to, and the storms he had survived. Godavari can be a challenging river especially when you are rowing a flat bottom boat, he explained. Finally he came to the episode that had unfolded moments ago.

Having gone without food for days, and being out on the river in the blazing sun, I was dead tired, he said. Reaching ashore, I moored the boat and made my way up the hill. Unable to walk anymore, out of hunger, thirst, and exhaustion I collapsed about a mile from our house. Luckily – a crusty old and frail humpback, who looked like a beggar, seeing me on the ground came to my rescue. It was he who helped me regain consciousness. He was so nice – not only did he bring me some water, but he also fed me the only tortilla he had. It looked exactly like the triangular one you are making now. I asked him from where he got it, and why he didn’t eat it.

There is this noble woman, about a mile from here he said. She makes one for me every day; today you need it more than me. I can go hungry for now. Looks like you haven’t eaten for days, so here, take it.

The awakening…

Leela was stunned, speechless, trembling, and sinking as Kirit finished his story. He held her tight asking what had happened. What was wrong? After a while Leela responded – “I am just so thankful to god you are alive; things could have taken a very bad turn today. A wise man has been telling me that our wrongs will stay with us and haunt us, while the good deeds come back as positives in our life.” Touched by these poignant lines, Kirit asked “What wrong did you do? And, how can I meet this wise man?” Leela said “he will be back tomorrow afternoon, you can meet him then. What I have just realized is things are not what they appear to be, our egos hijack our lives and run on auto-pilot for the most part. We need to learn how to control our responses (reactions) to stimuli (actions of others and triggers) rather than try to control the latter.”

The next day Kirit saw the whole series of events first hand. Chandu recognized him as he passed by the window; Kirit stepped out to greet and thank him for saving his life – offering him money in return for his help from yesterday. Chandu just smiled and said – if you reciprocate what I did for you with someone else, just one good deed a day – that would be reward enough for me; remember, he continued – your reaction to the actions you encounter in the world are an indicator of your true core, strength, and character. Hearing this, Leela came out with folded hands, and humbly said “we are blessed to have you come by every afternoon, and it is an honor to serve you.”  Chandu said so be it, and moved on. Leela and Kirit watched as he disappeared over the horizon. His parting words were “what we eat today, will eat us one day.” Both wondered – what does that mean, and, if they would have to wait for another episode to unravel that?

Rai Chowdhary

This is another story sent to me by my sister – the original was in Hindi; I have translated it and made some additions to the contextual settings for better impact. Let me know your thoughts.