While posted in Allahabad in the year 2004, I was the Mess secretary of our Mess and thus responsibilty for organising parties or get togethers rested on me. In one winter evening we had a party in our Mess and the fun went on till 12 night. The party though was a great success, but it was,nt all well for me since I received some news from my home on my phone which was disturbing me. And I was,nt in good mood at all. Anyway, I was the last to leave the Mess. It was quite cold that day. I had swithed on the car heater and was on my way to my room. While coming out of the Mess gate, I saw a strange sight. I saw a begger on the opposite side of the road, sitting on a hand moved trolly. I further notived that one of his hand was missing and he was moving his trolly with his remaining one hand. His condition was really bad. He hardly had any cloths on and with long beard and poor look on his face, he was what one can say, "poverty in its worst form".
      I dont know why I stopped my car and started watching him, his action and what he might do next. I saw him crossing the road on his trolly and moving his cart towards my side. He probabaly had not seen me till now.After a while I saw him moving ahead and crossing my car. I could see him clearly now..Seeing him in that condition in that hour of winder night, I was sure that I have never seen any human in such pathetic condition ever.
    Than suddenly he stopped and turned back and looked atraight into my eyes. I could see his eyes under the street light in the warmth of my car. I felt little uncomfortable seeing the intensity in those eyes. He looked at me for a while and than gave a smile. He smiled as if he was reading what was going inside my mind. And than he truned back and resumed his journey towards unknown..I thought my mind was frozen for a moment. I just didnt know what had hit me. The only thing, I could think at that moment was, what a great fool I am !! I have everything with me, God has been kind enough to have given me so much. I have health, wealth and whole list of well wishers and yet I am not happy, not contented with life, worried over mundane affairs. And there, the poor soul, who passed by my car had nothing, probabaly a curse on human kind, had reason to SMILE..
      He could smile despite all odds against him..I could,nt sleep well that night . Today, when I feel I am depressed  for some reson, I remember that night, recall his deep penetrating eyes  and I feel beter again.. My thanx to that unknown soul!!!