It was again a cold evening of Shimla. As usual, the Mall road was buzzing with tourists. I was on my way back to home, when a little girl’s voice grabbed my attention.

Some kids of her age were enjoying the horse ride but her mind was thinking the other way round!

“Papa, Papa, why don’t these horses wear shoes?! It is too cold out here.”— innocently she asked her father. Her father was, perhaps, not interested in her repetitive inquisitive questions. She repeated her question but in vain.

Noticing this, her Mom responded to her question— “O, my Sweetheart, you are so sweet! You know, the God has gifted them with natural shoes right from their birth and they are called hooves.”

“That’s great! Because they can’t buy shoes from the shop.”— said the little girl excitedly.

“ Exactly! You know it.”— said the Mom lifting the little girl in her arms and kissed her lovingly.

I was amused to see the love and compassion in the large heart of that little soul!

—Vijay Kumar—
© Truly Chambyal