Amir Saleem

In the morning, while on my way to the bus stop, I often see this gentleman cleaning the footpath. Plenty of dust flies around while he cleans from one end to the other. Cleaning is a kind act in itself; but he adds more to it.

The first time I ran across him, he saw me approaching from a distance. I thought, “Damn, I am all dressed up to nine and this guy is about to mess it all up.” My feet stuttered for a moment and then I saw him stopping his work and letting the dust settle down as I went by. No harm done to my spotless dress or my hair or my shoes. I would reach office in a clean attire.

And then it happened a number of times in coming days. He would stop his work as soon he saw me approaching. “I owe him an expression of gratitude” I would always think but couldn’t utter a word. How can I ever lecture anyone on ethics and morals?

Today, as I passed by him, I finally looked at him. He had that polite smile on his face while he stood there, his work all held up because of me. I smiled back at him and said, “Thank you”. A strange thing happened; I felt light, some load went off my mind.

Him doing his job, cleaning the place where I live, is kind enough; but doing it with such consideration is noble.

Look around. Appreciate.