The vicissitudes of life

The vicissitudes of life: Going down memory lane, I was sitting in the waiting lounge of the international airport in Delhi, waiting for the boarding announcement for my flight to Sydney. A young lady came in, escorted by two young boys and an airport staffer. She sat next to me, young and pretty but very quiet and depressed. She hardly had any hand baggage except a purse. From her body language, I could guess that she could burst out in tears any moment. I did not want to be intrusive, but there was something which was coaxing me to talk to her. I got up to get myself a cup of coffee and offered her one as well. Soon I started talking to her but her responses were only in monosyllables. She was taking the same flight as I was. I was going to Sydney on an official assignment and asked her about the purpose of her visit. I was shocked when she told me the purpose of her visit. She was going to escort the body of her husband who had gone there just a week ago on a business trip and died of a sudden cardiac arrest. I was speechless, my heart bled and I was in tears just as she was. During the course of the flight. I tried to console her and shared several of my experiences and others. I also handed over the book, ‘Tough Times Never Last but Tough People Do’, by Robert Schuller. As we landed, we moved on our different ways with tears in our eyes and parted with a hope that we shall meet again, someday. After about five years a smart dashing lady entered my office room with a bouquet of flowers and an invitation card for her re-marriage. She was full of life, with tears of joy and told me she had “digested the book" and looked for a good future. It was the highest form of dividend that I earned for a small investment I had made long ago. What a joy and thrilling experience!  SEEING THE CHANGE IN THE WOMAN FIVE YEARS LATER, I REALISED IT WAS THE HIGHEST FORM OF DIVIDEND EARNED BY GIFTING HER A SELF-HELP BOOK.