Kindness is rewarding (a story)

Raju loved to play tricks on people. He would sometimes ring the door bell and hide behind the stairs to see the irritation on the person’s face. His friend Vinod was a kind boy and he always guided Raju to be a good boy and not trouble anybody.

One day, Raju and Vinod were passing by a river. They saw a man swimming in the water. the man’s shoes and clothes were placed by the shore.

There was mischievous smile on Raju’s face as he looked at Vinod.

“Why are you smiling?” asked Vinod

“Let us have some fun” said Raju, “let us hide his shoes, stand behind this tree and see his expression.”

“Oh Raju” said Vinod “We should never amuse ourselves at the expense of the poor. I have a better idea, let us put a coin in each shoe, and then we will hide ourselves and watch how this affects him."

Raju loved his friend very much and he always listened to him. They put coins in each shoe and they stood behind the tree to watch the man and see his expressions.

The poor man soon finished his work, and came across the field to the path where he had left his coat and shoes . . .

While putting on his coat he slipped his foot into one of his shoes, but feeling something hard, he stooped down to feel what it was, and found the coin. There was astonishment and wonder in his expressions.

He gazed upon the coin, turned it around and looked at it again and again.

He then looked around him on all sides, but no person was to be seen. He now put the money into his pocket, and proceeded to put on the other shoe; but his surprise was doubled on finding the other coin.

He was so happy that he fell upon his knees, looked up to heaven and started praying to God, thanking Him for the money that would help him buy bread and milk for his family.

Raju and Vinod stood there deeply affected, and their eyes filled with tears.

"Now," said Vinod as he wiped off his tears, “Are you not much better pleased than if you had played your intended trick?"

Raju replied, "You have taught me a lesson which I will never forget. I feel now the truth of these words, which I never understood before: "It's more blessed to give than to receive."

”If you want happiness for a lifetime – We must help someone . . .”

And Raju never again played tricks on people but always helped the poor.

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