“Monday: I gave bread and fruits to an elderly homeless man in my street.”
A tinge of guilt pricked Ajay’s conscience and he was unable to write down this imaginary act of kindness in his Moral Science notebook. Ajay’s Moral Science teacher had given the class an assignment to write down the good deeds they had done in the past week. Ajay had to submit his assignment on Monday. Today was Sunday and Ajay had not done any good deed worth mentioning.
Ajay explained his dilemma to his grandfather. “There is always someone in need of something. They don’t shout aloud for help,” said his grandfather. “You have to see their plight and volunteer to help. Let’s go to the park. You can do a good deed for someone there.” Excited, Ajay accompanied his grandfather to the park.
When they reached the entrance to the park, Ajay scanned the faces of people around him. “Everybody looks fine and happy.”
Finding happiness Grandpa bought a tender coconut and said, “Give this to that elderly man selling balloons.” Ajay hesitated, but his grandpa gently prodded him. The balloon seller’s jaded face turned joyfully radiant when Ajay gave him the tender coconut. “Thank you, my boy. It’s a scorching day and I was feeling thirsty,” said the balloon seller. Grandpa bought a balloon from him. “Ajay, do you see that small boy crying near his mother, who is selling flowers?” asked grandpa. Ajay smiled. He gave the balloon to the small boy and he immediately stopped wailing and took the balloon happily.
They saw a group of boys playing cricket and grandpa asked, “Look at that boy’s bowling. Is he doing it right?” Ajay was the vice-captain for the senior boys’ cricket team in his school. “No, he is doing it wrong,” said Ajay. He went near the boys. “Hey, let me show you how to bowl.” He bowled well and the ball hit the stumps. “Please teach us how to bowl,” said the other boys as well. “Every weekend, we come to this park to play cricket. Will you please come and teach us?” Ajay promised them that he would come the next weekend. He decided he would give them his old cricket kit, which was in good condition.
Ajay’s heart was filled with happiness. He and grandpa headed home. When they entered their street, Ajay told his grandpa to go home, and that he would come later. “Where are you going?” asked grandpa. Ajay pointed to the man ironing clothes in their street. His son, sitting beside him, was struggling to do his maths homework. “I will go and help that boy do his homework.”
At the end of the day, Ajay sat down to write his assignment. “In one day, I was able to do many good deeds,” Ajay told grandpa. “I am going to do a good deed every day.”
