I am thankful to all who made me happier. When I look back most of them made me happy not by helping me but by allowing me to help them – actually indirectly helping me only.

To start with, I am thankful to a 16 years old boy, who for the first time met me near my office in Bangalore, India. I was parking my cycle along with the cars and bikes of my colleagues at office when he approached me. He wanted to buy a second hand cycle and asked me if I want to sell the cycle. Actually, I was not happy with that cycle. It was a modern cycle and within few days of riding I understood that I am comfortable in old style cycle.

The boy took me to his house to finalize the deal on the cycle with his parent. His parent and grandmother treated me very well. I told them that the cycle cost me Rs.2200 and I am willing to sell that in Rs.1800 as it was only around 15 days old. They wanted it in Rs.1500. But how could I sell the cycle with a loss of Rs.700. I did not take the offer and exited.

The story has not begun yet. After coming out I was not happy I thought I should have sold it in Rs.1500. I was going towards my house and I turned back. My intention was not to go to his house again to
give my cycle in Rs.1500 – just something made me turned back towards my office. I met the boy in the way. He said that his parents are okay with even Rs.1600. I agreed to sell the cycle.

While his mother was preparing coffee for me the boy started telling me why he wanted a cycle. He said that the place where he is working is 10 km far from his house. He was working there 10/12 hours to
earn Rs.600 per month. He was working all seven days week – not even a single day off in a month. If he commutes by bus to his working place daily then it would cost around Rs.300 per month and eating there for lunch will save no money for his family. That’s why the 16 years boy was walking all the distance to and fro to save some money for his family.

His mother and father together they earn Rs.2000. How will they pay me the amount for cycle then? They said he is planning to take three months advance from his boss to pay me my hefty price for the second hand cycle.

After hearing this, deep from my heart I said God – please beat me to pulp, I deserve it. I was about to commit a grave mistake by selling the cycle to them instead of just giving it to the boy. I gave the cycle for free – of course.

The boy’s father is actually a farmer, who has some 10 acres of land in his village. But due to consistent lack of rain as it happens in many parts of India, like many other farmers he also with his family
came to the city. When a farmer comes to a city, basically he becomes an “unskilled” laborer. Supply of such “unskilled” laborer is more and demand is limited, hence they get such low salary.

With his parent the boy had to come along with his family leaving his study. I took up the honor to sponsor the boy’s study and guide him in development of some skill needed to get a good job. Later I gave
some money to his parents to start milk business in his village starting with couple of cows, which they can do simultaneously when the rain starts pouring normally in their village.

It’s been more than one and half year since I met the boy first time. The boy has now acquired the required skill to get a job to take care of himself and also to support his family to some extent. He is
happy, his family is happy. But one can analyze, in the entire episode, who was benefited the most. Yes, undoubtedly it’s me.

If somebody does a cost benefit analysis then here is the reality. I spent just bit more than my current one month income in the entire process. Instead of that what I received is invaluable. The experience
opened my heart and soul to understand other’s problem better. It took my baby step of learning the art of loving one step further. It gave me a nice feeling to make somebody truly happy, which makes God and my Gurudeva happy. Was not it a nice deal? I would always surely “bid” for such “deals” from god