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Little deeds break barriers
Sharmila had shifted to a new locality and she realized people strictly kept to themselves a trendy feature of the modern generations of out times.Sharmila had been born and bred with a concern for others empathetic to the have - nots and the secluded lonely ones but here she decided to be a spectator observe before she would start being her true self.
She had found there were groupism and ladies in keeping with their characters and status formed groups but Sharmila found to her amazement they were indulging in self boasting chats about their families,their richness, wealth ,beauty and about their children too. However Sharmila pleasant in her exchanges forbade from engaging in such conversations and would steer them from such talk to commonrelated topics of Food and upkeeping of the house etc. However she noticed how in one unison they had a circumspect attitude bordering on dislike against the last house in the camp.
They had lots to say about her, " Oh ! She us a bad tempered person a rude proud peacock '.Each one had a story to tell about her.
Three weeks later a ring at Sharmila s door and on opening found ' the last house lady" standing with a frowned unease expression asking for a cutting pliers as her husband had mis placed the Tool kit .Sharmila invited her in but she refused and so she handed over the Pliers to her and she left nodding her head probably her way of saying thanks
Just a few minutes later Sharmila could see a group of teen boys wringing their hands in frustration and a few sitting down near her house contemplating on what to do .Sizing up the situation She drew near and enquired them.These boys while playing Cricket had hit the ball which fell in to her house in the Garden and though they had gone saying it was their mistake to please excuse them she wouldn't budge refused to return the ball literally kicked them out.
Sharmila 's true character came to the fore front and she marched like a Jawan on duty and rang the bell and as the door opened she looked behind Sharmila saw the little ones all lined up behind her started to scold angrily in harsh words "What a set of brats these are ? they are a bunch of monkeys mini imps "!she was vehement Sharmila found a smile creeping at the corner of her mouth as the analogy of ' bunch of monkeys' seemed improper and Sharmila a simpleton at heart found it as a matter of humour.Anyway she forbade herself quickly and to her own disbelief she gave the lady a piece of her mind in straight terms and ended the 4 minute speech with this sentence laying a strong emphasis on the phrase" after they are Children "! and quickly walked away fearing she had over stepped her limitations shopping the children away to their homes promising them that she would get one in the evening when her husband returns from work .They dispersed because they were shocked to see Sharmila aunt who had come to their Camp Locality only a month before and had confronted this' last house lady" in such a fearless manner. which was hither too missing even in their mothers .
Sharmila s nerves strung high as she never loses patience easily and wonder ed why in Heaven's name she had lost it. Hardly she taken a few breaths than the door bell rang and Irritation made her to open saying ," Now, Who is this "? was shocked as the," last house lady " Oh my Gosh! Not any more clashing with her "she told under her breath but the lady's eyes were lit up with anger She said,'So you too have taken sides with them is it ? ..I don't want your cutting pliers", and in a fit of anger threw it on the floor and stomped away.
Sharmila was a woman who needs only ten seconds to think and would act upon it never woukd she regret the steo she takes .So too now Sharmila pondered and then walked up to the last house and stepped inside .Now it was that lady s turn to get stunned for she knew she had been down right rude but this person s action was even more surprising to her.She just looked at Sharmila who said calmly, 'Mrs Sheena don't you need this to fix up the board don't you,?Show not your anger on this ok " and left it on the table and left amidst queer looks as she had been addressed her by name for the first time which none had done before.
The day passed bybwothout any more hitches and it took some hours for Sharmila to cool down.
It was evening at four o'clock and Sharmila stepped out to dry the laundry out in the open garden when she could see the back of Mrs Sheena head closing her garden gate.Sharmila knew she was making her way to her house to give back the pliers.
Sharmila stood hesitantly while Sheena s mannerisms had changed completely. She gave back the pliers and a small plastic bag with about 8 to 10 cricket balls and some tennis balls too for she would never return another fell in to her compound.
She began to apologise but Sharmila cut short her sentences by saying " Never mind about all that ..you did fix the board did you?"and she nodded her head in relieved manner. Sheepishly she asked Sharmila "But how was it possible for you to come back at once and hand it when I had thrown it in on the floor in such a rude manner "?
Sharmila said very casually," Oh see that was totally a different matter was it not ? why complicate it and react so impulsively over a small thing as the ball falling in your compound with the requirement that you needed to repair ?
She said mortified and humbly ,"You know Sharmila it was that gesture of goodness that made me think and felt a little ashamed of my act."
Sheena was about to continue but Sharmila also was abashed for she felt shy when people praised her so once again put the brakes and changed the subject to other matters. Sheena all smiles bid cheerio and went away.
From that day onwards Sheena became good friends with Sharmila and all the other neighbor women began to see her as a companion.
A month later as Sharmila and Sheena were in a quiet conversation about the Camp day Celebration plonk came a cricket ball at the feet of Sheena and bounced right in to the Garden of hers .
Sharmila smile broke off in to a worried expression the boys looking down casted and faces grim stood quietly before us and to their great surprise Sheena walked back in to her garden and searched on her up the ball from under the bushes and handed it over to the captain of the team without saying a word but Sharmila in earnestness began to gently chide the players advising them to be careful in hitting the ball when all on a sudden she was stopped by Sheena who said in light tones Oh Sharmila dont chide them ,let them play ,you see " they ... are ...after.. all... children !" in the sameway as Sharmila had voiced it when she championed their cause a month before .
Sharmila hearing it was in utter but sweet disbelief and sheepishly repeated 'Ah yes they are after all children "!in a like manner.
Sharmila said to herself as she turned away " I like your wit " nodding her head to Sheena in amusingly quirky way pondering on Human beings as everyone needs a bit of pushing when one lies low , a small pat on the shoulder, a positive word if possible an understanding gesture will go a long way in making relationships beautiful and livable.Don't you agree?
She had found there were groupism and ladies in keeping with their characters and status formed groups but Sharmila found to her amazement they were indulging in self boasting chats about their families,their richness, wealth ,beauty and about their children too. However Sharmila pleasant in her exchanges forbade from engaging in such conversations and would steer them from such talk to commonrelated topics of Food and upkeeping of the house etc. However she noticed how in one unison they had a circumspect attitude bordering on dislike against the last house in the camp.
They had lots to say about her, " Oh ! She us a bad tempered person a rude proud peacock '.Each one had a story to tell about her.
Three weeks later a ring at Sharmila s door and on opening found ' the last house lady" standing with a frowned unease expression asking for a cutting pliers as her husband had mis placed the Tool kit .Sharmila invited her in but she refused and so she handed over the Pliers to her and she left nodding her head probably her way of saying thanks
Just a few minutes later Sharmila could see a group of teen boys wringing their hands in frustration and a few sitting down near her house contemplating on what to do .Sizing up the situation She drew near and enquired them.These boys while playing Cricket had hit the ball which fell in to her house in the Garden and though they had gone saying it was their mistake to please excuse them she wouldn't budge refused to return the ball literally kicked them out.
Sharmila 's true character came to the fore front and she marched like a Jawan on duty and rang the bell and as the door opened she looked behind Sharmila saw the little ones all lined up behind her started to scold angrily in harsh words "What a set of brats these are ? they are a bunch of monkeys mini imps "!she was vehement Sharmila found a smile creeping at the corner of her mouth as the analogy of ' bunch of monkeys' seemed improper and Sharmila a simpleton at heart found it as a matter of humour.Anyway she forbade herself quickly and to her own disbelief she gave the lady a piece of her mind in straight terms and ended the 4 minute speech with this sentence laying a strong emphasis on the phrase" after they are Children "! and quickly walked away fearing she had over stepped her limitations shopping the children away to their homes promising them that she would get one in the evening when her husband returns from work .They dispersed because they were shocked to see Sharmila aunt who had come to their Camp Locality only a month before and had confronted this' last house lady" in such a fearless manner. which was hither too missing even in their mothers .
Sharmila s nerves strung high as she never loses patience easily and wonder ed why in Heaven's name she had lost it. Hardly she taken a few breaths than the door bell rang and Irritation made her to open saying ," Now, Who is this "? was shocked as the," last house lady " Oh my Gosh! Not any more clashing with her "she told under her breath but the lady's eyes were lit up with anger She said,'So you too have taken sides with them is it ? ..I don't want your cutting pliers", and in a fit of anger threw it on the floor and stomped away.
Sharmila was a woman who needs only ten seconds to think and would act upon it never woukd she regret the steo she takes .So too now Sharmila pondered and then walked up to the last house and stepped inside .Now it was that lady s turn to get stunned for she knew she had been down right rude but this person s action was even more surprising to her.She just looked at Sharmila who said calmly, 'Mrs Sheena don't you need this to fix up the board don't you,?Show not your anger on this ok " and left it on the table and left amidst queer looks as she had been addressed her by name for the first time which none had done before.
The day passed bybwothout any more hitches and it took some hours for Sharmila to cool down.
It was evening at four o'clock and Sharmila stepped out to dry the laundry out in the open garden when she could see the back of Mrs Sheena head closing her garden gate.Sharmila knew she was making her way to her house to give back the pliers.
Sharmila stood hesitantly while Sheena s mannerisms had changed completely. She gave back the pliers and a small plastic bag with about 8 to 10 cricket balls and some tennis balls too for she would never return another fell in to her compound.
She began to apologise but Sharmila cut short her sentences by saying " Never mind about all that ..you did fix the board did you?"and she nodded her head in relieved manner. Sheepishly she asked Sharmila "But how was it possible for you to come back at once and hand it when I had thrown it in on the floor in such a rude manner "?
Sharmila said very casually," Oh see that was totally a different matter was it not ? why complicate it and react so impulsively over a small thing as the ball falling in your compound with the requirement that you needed to repair ?
She said mortified and humbly ,"You know Sharmila it was that gesture of goodness that made me think and felt a little ashamed of my act."
Sheena was about to continue but Sharmila also was abashed for she felt shy when people praised her so once again put the brakes and changed the subject to other matters. Sheena all smiles bid cheerio and went away.
From that day onwards Sheena became good friends with Sharmila and all the other neighbor women began to see her as a companion.
A month later as Sharmila and Sheena were in a quiet conversation about the Camp day Celebration plonk came a cricket ball at the feet of Sheena and bounced right in to the Garden of hers .
Sharmila smile broke off in to a worried expression the boys looking down casted and faces grim stood quietly before us and to their great surprise Sheena walked back in to her garden and searched on her up the ball from under the bushes and handed it over to the captain of the team without saying a word but Sharmila in earnestness began to gently chide the players advising them to be careful in hitting the ball when all on a sudden she was stopped by Sheena who said in light tones Oh Sharmila dont chide them ,let them play ,you see " they ... are ...after.. all... children !" in the sameway as Sharmila had voiced it when she championed their cause a month before .
Sharmila hearing it was in utter but sweet disbelief and sheepishly repeated 'Ah yes they are after all children "!in a like manner.
Sharmila said to herself as she turned away " I like your wit " nodding her head to Sheena in amusingly quirky way pondering on Human beings as everyone needs a bit of pushing when one lies low , a small pat on the shoulder, a positive word if possible an understanding gesture will go a long way in making relationships beautiful and livable.Don't you agree?
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