Children.......

I witnessed a beautiful sight today... it was something so innocent that only kids would be able to pull it off with this much ingenuity. My mind was in turmoil with a million other things but as soon as i saw this kid, every single worry in my mind just vanished and i had eyes only for him.. To my eyes, he was the most beautiful thing in the world.

My bus was going at snail pace and i was wondering if i would either reach on time or reach too early. I was wondering if i had to wait for my friend, if it would be too hot, if there would be alot of work today or if we'd just be lounging around like we did yesterday, if my lunch of a measly 2 dosas would fill a stomach that hadn't eaten anything since last night, if i would do a good job, if my father would remember to pay my fee, if i would make a good decision about my future, if my life would be as i thought it would be, if i would get back home early..... and so on...

A million thoughts randomly crept up and i was lost amidst them when suddenly the bus came to stop near a school. I lazily looked at the kids rushing in, sometimes their parents right behind him or an elder student gently pushing them inside. I was about to turn away when i suddenly spotted a tiny boy, with huge spectacles getting out of a car. He must've been 6 or so. A cute little thing with the most cherubic face i've ever seen. The pavement was too big for him to climb and he stood there, looking inside the car for help.

His father stepped out, a young man, maybe in his early thirties. He smiled as he saw his son reach out his arms to him. He ran over and scooped him up, playing around a little before placing him on the pavement. The little boy clung tightly to his dad's neck but sported a smile so amazing that i was forced out of my melancholy and my lips widened too. As his father put him down, the boy, still smiling wide, started walking toward the school. But a few steps later, he paused. He looked back to see if his father was coming.

His dad was busy parking the car and the little boy waited, his smile slowly diminishing. When his father saw this, he hurriedly parked the car and ran to his son, who looked at him with the saddest eyes. He took the boy's hand and they walked a little more. Suddenly, the father's mobile started ringing and he let go of the boy's hand to answer it. The boy looked as though he was about to cry and my heart thought it would break.

The bus started moving and i was wondering if i was to miss what would eventually happen. But nature, for once, was kind enough to let me see how it ended. The bus was again stopped by heavy traffic and i craned my head 90 degrees literally, to see what would happen.

The dad put the phone down and looked at his son, who was now some ten steps ahead, looking back every single second to see if his father was still there, but crying his way into school. The father looked lost for a minute. He then regained his composure and ran to his son. The boy's glasses were smudged by tears and the father bent down on the road, not caring if the dirt ruined his seemingly expensive pants and hugged him.

The boy wrapped his arms tightly around his dad's neck and cried. The world froze for a minute as i saw this. The father broke away a minute later and took off his son's glasses. He wiped them on his shirt and wiped off the little boy's tears. The boy was still snuffling as he put his glasses back on. His father then beckoned him closer, bent near his ear and whispered a secret.

The boy bore another dazzling smile as his father finished. He loosened his grip around his dad's neck just a little bit and gave him a big kiss on his cheek. The father eyes was shone with happiness as he kissed his son back, gently. He then carried him all the way to the gate and let him down. The boy held on to his hand just a second longer and then ran away, turning back to wave once.

As if on cue, my bus started moving and i saw his father suddenly realise what he did and shake the dirt off his pants. He then shook his head, smiled and went back to his car. I couldn't help but smile broadly. Children... they're the only reasons we still have a good side... and the only reason we still continue to love....