Helping Hands

Nick had been turning over a new leaf. 

The welfare of others was now his focus in life, be they less fortunate than him or more. “Everybody needs a helping hand” he thought. 

It was unfair to think that only the less fortunate needed help and support, according to him. The well off too needed someone to hold their hand when they faced their troubles. “Everybody needs somebody” as the song went. 

He had started an informal group called “Helping Hands” with his childhood friend Amrit, and often wondered if their efforts were working. They spent all their energy working towards helping people out of a rough patch in their lives; be it loss of a loved one or financial hardship or paying a child’s school fees. 

They did the best that they could and help was always forthcoming. 

They had been at it for a year and funds always came when they needed them. 

Nick remembered a quote told to him by his friend Vikram’s father that went, “The gardener may water his garden fifty barrels a day, but the fruits will come only when it is season.” 

He was quite taken up by these words and wondered when the fruits of his deeds would come. He was still at the stage where he was awaiting the fruits of his good deeds. This stage was important as it made the practice of good deeds a habit. 

In time the fruits of his deeds would not matter, but this was a phase he had to go through. 

He did know that good begets good and evil begets evil. Little did he know that to rise beyond this relative world of good and bad would become the pursuit of his life. 

He had had a life of indulgence and though it hurt nobody, he felt that the fruits of such a life were heavy on him. 

The change was gradual as all change is. He introspected and realised that life had purpose and that a higher calling awaited him. His friend and confidant Amrit, was quite impressed with the turn in Nick’s life and often encouraged him. 

Amrit had been a witness to the upheavals in Nick’s life and had been a pillar of support through it all. He too wanted a conviction like Nick’s and had joined him in his efforts to make a difference in people’s lives. 

He lacked nothing and yet felt like he was missing something; a purpose, a direction, but little did he see that he was already far ahead of Nick in terms of engaging with the world. He was a natural born good person. Yet he had no realisation of it, as all he was doing was what came naturally to him. 

Nick too valued his friendship with Amrit and thought that fate had brought them together to help each other work out their Karmas. 

Their stories were not so important, but their desire to make a difference was important. That made all the difference. 

When one is stuck in despair is when one realises that a helping hand would be nice to have. And this what they wanted to be. 

A desire like this would not go to waste and they were blessed by every soul they helped on this journey. 

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