Kindness

Today I saw love, when a little girl was leaning against the chest of her father, who was the only breadwinner of a family of 10 members. He balances his scooter like his monthly expenses.

Today I saw love, when a man on the footpath took food out of the wrapping and fed the stray cat with his little offering. They shared food, dull skin, unwashed hair, and hunger. Living this generous life is way better than expanding pockets.

Today I saw love, when this little girl, hardly seven years old, grasped the hand of her younger brother and crossed the road. Dear girl, I saw in you, a mother, a father, a dutiful daughter, and a considerate sister. With this spirit, you can even survive the wildest of storms.

Today I saw love, when this little boy made his own breakfast, because mommy was sick.  Love boosts the immune system. No matter what the ailment is, just a little pinch of some chemical called “love”, is the antidote. 

Today I saw love, when a couple promised to cherish and brighten the world for precious moments, may later be sinking in the whirl of fretting. They tied knots and untied the ones in minds and hearts together, before they got tangled in the threads of misunderstandings and silence.

Today I saw love, when people, despite running late for work, smiled. In the little spaces they find out, they use it to be kind. 

Kindness sheds like the moon, even in the dark, crescent would still glow. We idealize women with slim figures and men with guns and glory. We appreciate white faces, but not whiter characters. We want attractive lips but can’t speak kindness. We want angular bodies but can’t share food with the hungry.