A Story of Night Patrol
This story takes me back to when I was young—maybe in class 3 or 4. At that time, there was an old man who used to patrol our village at night. In his left hand, he carried a stick, and in his right hand, he held a lantern. The lantern flickered like a little star. Electricity had reached our village, but it was weak. The streetlights hardly worked. Even now, I think only two or three lights glow properly.
When the old man came near our house, he didn’t shout “Jaagte Raho,” like we see in movies or on TV. We never heard anything like that in real life. His arrival was quiet, but always on time. Every evening, between 8:00 and 8:10, he walked by. I do not remember what I was doing at that time, but I do remember stopping everything and quietly going to the window to look. As he walked, his stick made a clear khat khat sound on the ground. That sound echoed in the dark and made the night feel alive.
I liked to watch him from the window. He moved slowly but steadily. I remember feeling a little scared and a little curious at the same time. There was something serious about him, but also kind. After walking around the village for about four or five weeks, he would go door to door to collect rice, lentils, and vegetables.
I remember my mother giving whatever she could. Sometimes it was rice, sometimes lentils, sometimes potatoes or pumpkins—whatever we had at home. She never refused. She gave freely, without thinking much about it. I think she was proud to help. I also remember other villagers giving what they could. The old man never asked for money. He only took food, and people gave with small smiles.
Those days felt very simple and honest. People were kind and helped each other quietly. Scenes like that seem rare today. Now, most things are fast, and people do not have time for small acts of generosity. But I still remember those nights clearly. The sound of the stick, the flickering lantern, and the soft light of our small village—it all stays in my memory.
Watching that old man made me learn something without anyone saying it. Helping others is simple. You do not need to shout or show off. Quiet kindness is enough to make life better for someone. Those small, simple moments of generosity left a deep mark on me, and I will never forget them.