May 14, 2012

• Take The Stairs

  Take The Stairs.

  I missed at least five cars from crashing on to my car in the morning drive. I checked the way I am driving and I was pretty sure I was driving like a granny.  Still a lot of people were in a hurry. That was an adventure to reach the office. When I was about to get into the office I saw one of my colleague coming into the office. She looked all in gloom. Believe me normally she is a very pleasant lady. In her early 20s Michelle is one of the most prolific characters I have met in my life. So while on our way to the elevator I asked her,

  “Are you okay Michelle? You look gloomy on this very pleasant morning outside”

   She looked at me and said “Riaz, it is a long, long story”  I told her  the normal thing I tell people who use those words “Give me the shorter version first.” Without a smile she looked at me and I saw her almost ready to burst into tears.

  She said “My boyfriend moved out with his ex and took the kid too?” I raised both my eyebrows and asked “He took your kid?” She said “No it is not my kid, it is his kid with his ex, she was in jail and now got out on parole, he moved with her taking the kid”.

  I stood there looking at her and the elevators opened and closed couple of times. I went to the elevator signal button and pressed the up arrow again and turned to her and said. “Life can be bitchy at times.. but in this case, understand the mother who gave birth to the kid” I stopped speaking and looked at Michelle for like half a minute.

  The breaking silence Michelle asked “Is there anything more you want to say?” She said it as if she wanted me to unload all my thoughts on her and move on. The tone was that strong.

  I went near to Michelle and said “See there are many choices and ways to live life, one is like this elevator, when you get into it there will be others pressing their floors and what you do is, wait for them to get down and others to get in until you reach your destination.” I paused and Michelle all this time was looking directly into my eyes almost all stunned without even blinking, I continued “Then there is a choice in it all…. Take the stairs”

  She looked at me and smiled and turned and walked to the door to the stairs while she was opening the door she turned around and smiled at me and bowed her head a bit.

  I smiled right back at her saying nothing more as I know the meaning of that bow of thankfulness and felt a sizzle in my heart, the ones I feel when I make another person smile, even when they are struggling with pain of the worst kind.

  • 2:15 pm
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