It just takes a bit of courtesy

My hands were full and was struggling to hold pepsi, pop corn and a movie ticket, life seemed superbly exciting at that very moment as we bunch of friends were very busy having merry time. Just out of college when we friends had landed in our so called dream job, we all exactly had what we really dreamt of, an IT Job with some “XX”thousands salary in which “XX” was actually greater than our age at that time! And all we did was movies, parties and trips.  On the pretext of hectic work life I was ok to miss talking to Amma, a good dinner time discussion with Appa and a warm hug to darling sister but never missed meeting random people and catching up for some merry time over the weekends. Such was the age where we dint understand what all this really meant!

On that Saturday as we all friends were standing in queue a friend of mine playing prank spilt her snacks all over my dress unfortunately we couldn’t find tissues and a very clever friend of mine passed on a set of promotional pamphlet which someone forcefully gave it to him on the way to theater, praising his time sense which was of help to me I used some and rest kept it in my bag as we were already late to the movie.

Later that evening once I got back to home and as I was cleaning my handbag I realized the presence of these pamphlet, Just a pause of a moment to read them before putting it into dustbin changed the way I see life. Yes it won’t be exaggeration to say that it takes a second to change your life and that exactly happened to me that moment.

Pamphlet was full of happy smiling little kids, Pictures of some dancing, some singing, some playing anybody would pass it to some nursery promotion but then this was of a foundation named “Courtesy” which is an NGO which works for underprivileged children. A cute hand stretched out towards the reader and mention of help and request for donation as low as of rupees 50 really moved me. I was left perplexed thinking the amount I spent in an evening can actually feed a hungry kid and thought of just by sacrificing my one weekend I would have fed a needy kid really left me shocked.

Very next day, I made a call to the foundation and requested them if I can visit them. Dragging my colleague who I had promised to meet over that Sunday to “Courtesy”, I was there in the small but neat complex of “Courtesy foundation”. As we spoke to the manager there he told us that the place was home for needy children, for some where orphaned by parents as they couldn’t meet the ends and some where orphans by fate.  Manager showed us the neatly made up place with playing area for kids, library, and computer education center which were all made and maintained by the very little donations that they were getting.  Not only this all the kids where provided education in the nearby government school and their complete education was taken care until they reached the age of 18. As I was not surprised enough, Manager also told us that kids were very talented and they would love to perform for us.Vishnu, a5yr old kid stood up from the crowd did namasthe to the crowd and started singing melodiously

 “hetha tayiya nenpagi naan athena mana marugi, sigudila aaki tirugi naan athena mana marugi”

I was wiping my tears wondering if the kid knew the meaning of the song that it was singing so melodiously, my non kannadiga colleague gave a friendly pat to console me. As we bid bye to them and walked out my colleague asked me the meaning of the song.

And this time even his eyes were moist when I told him that kid sang a song which meant that he is crying in memories of his mother who has given birth to him as he knows that he will never again get her back in his life…

It is been 7yrs from that day now, the value of a hug, a compliment, a friendly talk with your family member and warmth of all the people around me was restored in me from that day. Worth of selfless love which I saw in the eyes of little kids there keeps dragging me to that place.

 “Courtesy foundation” has struggled a lot to get to this level of providing good education and healthy living to all the kids who come to this shelter.  I bow to the dedication of “Courtesy foundation” that has been doing this from decade now and I pray that their dream of expanding these facilities to Special children as well comes true with the help of humble people. I will pray and try to be of some help to them to make their dreams come true.Visit: http://www.courtesyfoundation.org/contact.html for more details of this place

I whole heartedly thank indiblogger and ISB http://www.isb.edu/idiya/ for having provided an opportunity to share with larger audience about all this and giving us a chance to voice the needs of such organization. I hope all the deserving organization gets some financial help and attention via this blog contest.

And I realized it just takes a bit of courtesy to stretch out our hands strong and firm and there will be hundreds who will cling on to that and walk with you for long… Be that strong hand and take as many as people along with you it will be truly memorable!