A little boy with a big smile, bigger heart

Festivals are the best time to take a walk down the beautiful Heritage Street to the Golden Temple in Amritsar. It’s a treat to watch the tourists and local residents, particularly children, looking so lively and cheerful, enjoying the cultural heritage and colours. Shops along the street showcase Punjab's rich culture and cuisine, tempting visitors to splurge and savour the delicacies whether it’s the Amritsari

kulcha, lassi or kulfi. The beautiful statues look full of life as they mesmerise one and all with the sheer energy and verve of the folk dances of bhangra and giddha.

As visitors head to seek the blessings of the Lord, children of a lesser god tug at their heart strings, running about and selling knick-knacks to earn their next meal.

I visited the holiest of Sikh shrines with my friends recently. Walking, laughing and chatting, we were merrily creating and capturing memories to cherish a lifetime when I was suddenly stopped in my tracks. A boy with bright eyes and dishevelled hair was looking up at me with a big smile. He was about eight and holding pens in his hand. “Pen le lo didi (Please buy some pens sister),” he said.

I don’t believe in giving alms to beggars but support vendors who work hard to earn their bread. I ignored the boy at first

but he kept asking me to buy a pen. “10 rupey ka didi, subha se

bony bhi nhi hui (It’s just worth ~10. No one has bought one from me since morning),” he said.

Another child vendor rushed towards us and said, “The pen costs us ~5 and he is selling it to you for ~10.” The boy gave me a surprised look and said in a soft voice, “How will I earn enough to pay my school fee?” I heard him clearly.

My friends gave a confused look but I just smiled. I immediately unzipped my hand bag and gave him two notes of ~10. He handed me two pens, smiled and ran away.

I told my friends that the child was right. After all, he was working hard in the harsh sun to earn his share of profit.We exchanged smiles and walked on.

The busy street was a picture of serenity and chaos at the same time. The sound of prayer was interrupted with horns of vehicles and people laughing and talking. I was soaking in the sights and sounds when I heard a little voice again: “Didi ruko,

didi ruko (Sister, please stop)”. The boy was tugging at my

dupatta when I turned back. Before he could say anything further, I said I would not be buying more pens. He gave a wide smile, thrust a pen in my hand and ran away, shouting

“Yeh aapke liye gift hai (That’s a gift for you).” His words often ring in my ears.

It may be a petty gift for many but for me that pen is worth a million dollar smile. The child taught me the true meaning of happiness and how to cherish it. Happiness comes in small packages. His effort to make me smile will always be huge.

He was surely a little boy with a big smile and a bigger heart.

WALKING, LAUGHING AND CHATTING, WE WERE MERRILY CREATING MEMORIES TO CHERISH A LIFETIME WHEN I WAS SUDDENLY STOPPED IN MY TRACKS