My 'hanky' and me!

Boarding a bus after college is a tedious task. As soon as the last bell rings, everyone rushes to the bus stop …and it resembles a group of bees clustered around a beehive. If you could get into the first bus, then my god…You are an expert in it! I seldom get the chance for the same…but today made it somehow! Uff…the pushing, pulling …and what not…but finally found a place to stand by. My friend who is always in search of a seat, beside the driver was not successful today to fish one…and so was sulking about the same. I in the meanwhile was happy that I could stand near the window, and could enjoy the fresh air! After two or three stops the rush was a lot better and we could actually see the people standing along with us.

Suddenly an aunty who was standing next to me, turn around us and says “can you please lend me your handkerchief , my hand is hurt and its bleeding.” We simultaneously inquire “how?”. She then tells us that, there was something protruding near by the window, where she accidentally got her hand and it was cut, near the elbow. It wasn’t a major injury just a small wound, but then a little bit of blood was oozing out …and being ‘chingam 1’(new year day of keralites) she was dressed in the traditional kerala attire , like many other aunties! And so was very cautious, as she didn’t want her white sari to turn crimson! And this was the reason why she needed a hanky.

But then hankies are quite personal, they travel all along with you…and it’s a emotional moment if you have to part with it…especially when you are quite attached to it…lol…as I am . But then, somehow I persuaded my mind and decided to give away my hanky …after all it was for a noble cause and I was helping out a poor lady.

Though I was a bit sad to part with my hanky …I knew after receiving the same the aunty would thank me with a genuine smile and in return I would feel happy and content for helping some one.

With this thought in mind I offered my hanky with a sweet and generous smile. But as soon as the hanky was offered it was snatched from my hand…as a cat does with a mouse!. No word of ‘thank you’ or authentic smile, not even a look of gratitude. Everything was so fast, that even I didn’t know what actually happened! My ‘hanky’ was sincere with her duties and covered the wound well…but her present mistress was least bothered from where she came or the help she offered.She was bothered only about her sari and as long as her sari remained white she was satisfied.

Before getting down at my stop , I gave a last look at the aunty to see if she would want to thank me…but as thought I was disappointed ,not because she didn’t thank me… but simply because I could see my dear ‘hanky ’crying aloud wanting to get back to me!