Last week, I was sitting for a very crucial business negotiation. The party at the other end were seasoned business tycoons and frankly, I was out of my waters there. We were 
considering a long term business relationship and every decision I make now will have long lasting consequences. They had organised one of my programs and were thoroughly impressed. While we were haggling over the innumerable terms and conditions, the man began off-handedly, “Oh, yea! I forgot to tell you….” and narrated the following incident.
“… I was in a meeting and twice I received a call from a number. When I lifted the call both the times I heard a female voice inquiring if it was the program organizers and the call got cut just after a minute. It was evident she was talking from a PCO. After a few more attempts, I had a hunch to take the call even if it was very frustrating. I told the lady, “just stand there and i will call you back!” And when I did the lady started to cry and told me about her son who attended your program. The Govt school he studies in gets over by 4 ‘o’ clock and invariably he comes home only by 9 ‘o’ clock. He hangs out with his friends and has taken up bad habits. I am a single mother working as a servant maid. But after whatever program you guys conducted, he comes home every single day by 4:30 and sits to study by 5:00. He has not spoken disrespectfully to me even once. So I wanted to thank you. The illiterate lady had personally visited the head master, taken my number from him and called me repeatedly to let me know that what we did mattered… So, Kirtanya, you really did a great job there….”
But I didn’t hear the rest. I felt a lump come over in my heart and my eyes started to mist over slightly. Moments like this are worth every hard-ship in life. I know that I cannot in any way claim credit for the progress the boy has made. It would be too egoistic of me to say that I have helped someone. But still, I like to think that in some way I touched a life and my finger-prints will be felt for sometime by them. And the thought gives me immense comfort.
Yes, its worth every struggle.
