Curves of Life (A True & Inspiring Story by an Unknown Writer)
It was the 27th of January. I was coming back home from my hometown. Because the train was late, I reached Noida around 9 in the morning. Then I got ready for the office and went to the nearest auto stand and boarded.
On that beautiful morning, I was destined to meet this guy; a good-looking, educated man who was in his middle or late 30s, driving the auto.
Just as I boarded, we struck up a conversation. Initially, we talked about his daily routine and crime in Noida. Then we started talking about education, and he told me that he graduated with a B.A. degree in 1993.
He continued by telling me about his first job—a cleaner in an office where he used to get 500 Rs per month. Later, he changed his job, and his salary went to 1000 Rs per month. From there, he was promoted to a clerical job, where his salary reached around 3000 Rs per month. But somehow, the story of growth was stopped suddenly by fate, and he lost his job.
He told me of times when he used to gather chapattis, thrown by his neighbors, and then put them into water to make an edible roti for his kids. He and his wife went hungry for a few days just to feed their children.
Then one day, a guy asked him to deliver cylinders from one place to another. He started delivering 3 cylinders, twice a day, and started earning 20 Rs per cylinder, which summed up to 120 Rs per day.
Then he started delivering more cylinders, and his earnings reached around 50 Rs per cylinder. Then he came to know the hidden truth—he could earn around 200 Rs per cylinder if he could buy his own cylinders. Somehow, he managed to buy documents for 10 cylinders, which cost him around 10k.
With some more money, he bought an auto. He was not happy being an auto driver, as he explained that this job is not one of pride, and even rickshaw pullers come up and say expletives to him.
On a personal level, being an educated guy, it hurts him to drive an auto. But the best part, he said, is, "Now my children don't go to sleep hungry at night. I don't have to pick others' thrown-away food."
This guy has now risen to the level where he can keep his family happy and is earning a handsome amount of money. He plans to buy a new auto rickshaw. His children study in an English medium school, and he is proud to give them the best.
But there was one thing he was worried about and still is: whether his children will think about him the way he thought about himself.
And then, on the next turn, he said, "I am quite optimistic that whatever good I do today will result in a much better future for me tomorrow."
I don't know his name, I don't know who he was, but he taught me a few lessons that will remain with me forever.
Some of you may find this a silly story to tell, and some may have their own crux of this story, but I just want to share a few morals I learned:
• There is a new start at every bend in the road.
• If you can dream big and wish to grow, no one can ever stop you.
• Sometimes we remain hungry to feed our loved ones, and the pain acts as a firing ball forever in the future.
• There are a few people in our lives who sacrifice a lot to make their loved ones happy without ever thinking of their own interests, and still, they are optimistic that they will somehow get something in return.
• Crisis can show you a path that may be difficult but still leads to the things you aspire to if you have that vision.
• Even if you give your best, and for the time being, you don't get the returns back, just expect the best and stop brooding or bothering about it.
• Strength is not measured by the number of toned muscles in your body; it is measured in terms of the strength of your heart—when you remain hungry to feed your children and then grow to give them the best.
Regards.
From India, Ahmadabad
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31It was the 27th of January. I was coming back home from my hometown. Because the train was late, I reached Noida around 9 in the morning. Then I got ready for the office and went to the nearest auto stand and boarded.
On that beautiful morning, I was destined to meet this guy; a good-looking, educated man who was in his middle or late 30s, driving the auto.
Just as I boarded, we struck up a conversation. Initially, we talked about his daily routine and crime in Noida. Then we started talking about education, and he told me that he graduated with a B.A. degree in 1993.
He continued by telling me about his first job—a cleaner in an office where he used to get 500 Rs per month. Later, he changed his job, and his salary went to 1000 Rs per month. From there, he was promoted to a clerical job, where his salary reached around 3000 Rs per month. But somehow, the story of growth was stopped suddenly by fate, and he lost his job.
He told me of times when he used to gather chapattis, thrown by his neighbors, and then put them into water to make an edible roti for his kids. He and his wife went hungry for a few days just to feed their children.
Then one day, a guy asked him to deliver cylinders from one place to another. He started delivering 3 cylinders, twice a day, and started earning 20 Rs per cylinder, which summed up to 120 Rs per day.
Then he started delivering more cylinders, and his earnings reached around 50 Rs per cylinder. Then he came to know the hidden truth—he could earn around 200 Rs per cylinder if he could buy his own cylinders. Somehow, he managed to buy documents for 10 cylinders, which cost him around 10k.
With some more money, he bought an auto. He was not happy being an auto driver, as he explained that this job is not one of pride, and even rickshaw pullers come up and say expletives to him.
On a personal level, being an educated guy, it hurts him to drive an auto. But the best part, he said, is, "Now my children don't go to sleep hungry at night. I don't have to pick others' thrown-away food."
This guy has now risen to the level where he can keep his family happy and is earning a handsome amount of money. He plans to buy a new auto rickshaw. His children study in an English medium school, and he is proud to give them the best.
But there was one thing he was worried about and still is: whether his children will think about him the way he thought about himself.
And then, on the next turn, he said, "I am quite optimistic that whatever good I do today will result in a much better future for me tomorrow."
I don't know his name, I don't know who he was, but he taught me a few lessons that will remain with me forever.
Some of you may find this a silly story to tell, and some may have their own crux of this story, but I just want to share a few morals I learned:
• There is a new start at every bend in the road.
• If you can dream big and wish to grow, no one can ever stop you.
• Sometimes we remain hungry to feed our loved ones, and the pain acts as a firing ball forever in the future.
• There are a few people in our lives who sacrifice a lot to make their loved ones happy without ever thinking of their own interests, and still, they are optimistic that they will somehow get something in return.
• Crisis can show you a path that may be difficult but still leads to the things you aspire to if you have that vision.
• Even if you give your best, and for the time being, you don't get the returns back, just expect the best and stop brooding or bothering about it.
• Strength is not measured by the number of toned muscles in your body; it is measured in terms of the strength of your heart—when you remain hungry to feed your children and then grow to give them the best.
Regards.
From India, Ahmadabad
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Thank you for sharing a motivating story. I believe stories grow within our surroundings. Hard times can teach us the best lessons. It's up to us how we handle those times. The important thing is how you take care of yourself and your dependents by using your best skills and morals. Education is always a support in making the right choice.
Regards,
From India, Delhi
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Regards,
From India, Delhi
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