Share the Excitement

The train rattled through the bustling city, packed with weary commuters lost in their own thoughts. Among them was Saira, a young professional on her way home after a long day at her office. As the train lurched to a stop, a commotion erupted near the door – a small boy, no older than five, was shouting excited at each sight he saw from the window,Mama Mama Mountains !! Mama Mama River !!! Mama Mama A cow see a cow with kids  his tiny hands gripping his mother’s saree at each sight he saw, who seemed oblivious to share the child’s excitement.

Sarah’s initial reaction was annoyance. “Can’t he just be quiet?” she thought, her eyes rolling as the boy’s cries echoed through the carriage. She settled deeper into her seat, trying to block out the noise. But as the train rolled on, the boy’s cries grew more insistent, and Sarah felt a growing irritation. As the train approached the next station another lady from the same compartment got up and went to the lady with the kid and advised the mother you should take care of the child and ask him to calm down and not raise the voice at a public place which actually is irritating for other passengers too.

Just as she looked at the child again she saw a small strip of band aid kind thing near the eyes with the answer of the mother ringing in her ears “sorry Madam I do understand the trouble you all are having since the last 30 minutes but I really don’t know how to handle a child who was blind at birth and got his eye sight back just a few hours back when he opened his eyes to a new world two days after the surgery of a kind hearted surgeon who had been frantically trying to help our family since he knew us .The lady who questioned turn pale and she did not have the voice to apologize as she got choked with emotions she just kissed the child on the cheek and then just gave caressed the hand of the mother with adoration. The whole set of people who were near just went into a silent mode for a few minutes and were self retrospection and learning a new lesson for life,always avoid prejudice.

As the mother and child deboarded the train and left the platform , Saira watched, her own heart heavy with understanding.

She thanked herself and her maturity of not going to the lady or scolding the child  It was a small gesture, but she offered a soft smile to the grieving mother without guilt, a silent acknowledgment of the unseen burden she carried.

Key elements of a paradigm shift in this story:

• Initial judgment:

Saira initially perceived the crying child as a nuisance, judging the mother for not controlling him.

• Shift in perspective:

On listening to the reply from mother Sairah realized the child’s crying was likely a manifestation of deep excitement not just bad behavior.

• Compassionate action:

Saira’s annoyance turned to empathy, leading her to offer a subtle gesture of support to the mother.

Paradigm Shift :A fundamental change in approach and underlying pre -assumptions: