I thought I was giving back, but someone gave back to me, "the inspiration"

It was out of my conscious that, today is X-mass. I don't know about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the pain he undergone, but has a reason for all, may be a vision to spread love and affection among the people. That's one of the reasons for his existence and the X-mass is being celebrated across the globe on this day.

There were many occasions in my life where I got utmost inspiration, on March 22, 2012, I have got an opportunity to meet Sir Dr. Abdul Kalam in Hyderabad. I spent at least an hour in his vibrant space. It's a great experience being in his presence. I felt that, I would carry this inspiration all the way in my life.

Today (December 25, 2012) I had spent some time with a guy called Vikram, I was in Bangalore railway station waiting for intercity express (Bangalore to Ernakulam). I found this guy and chose to talk to him for some time though I left with other two favorite choices (reading and listening to music). I asked him, "where are you going?", he said, "Nanded". Our conversation went on, I found that, he was suffering from a leg injury and was hardly trying to walk. I asked him, "how did you manage to reach this place?" Vikram, a twelve year old boy chose to beg from people in metros and big towns, it was bit painful to hear from him, "I was staying here in this station for the past four days, I am going to Nanded to meet my mother", he continued, "I beg and borrow money from people, now I want to see my mother, I have pooled around two hundred rupees in last four days, however I used some to fill my stomach". I sensed that, he might be feeling hungry, I offered him breakfast, we found a small eatery and I ordered the breakfast for me too. I thought for a while, Vikram's train is boarded in the evening and how would he manage for the rest of the day, is he going to beg or borrow from somebody or use some money from which he already had. This quick thought made me to buy some snacks which can suffice to serve him till evening.

We continued chatting, I was listening to him as he was sharing, his mother has to payback to someone in Nanded, she also finds places to beg and borrow money from people. In the process, she left with no choice but to force her son to help her. Vikram travels to different metros and big towns and spends in railway stations to earn money, once in four or five days he goes to his mother's place and gives the money whatever he earns.

I asked him, "What is your next destination?", "Most probably Nagpur" he said.

I thought I was helping him..! But the fact was he inspired me. I chose to learn something in life by doing this job (of traveling across the nation and visiting the training centers to share with the teams about what I have learnt). Sometimes traveling extensively is bit painful, but I feel happy about all this as I found the very 'purpose' and reason for my existence. Being in this space gave me an opportunity to get more clarity in my goals and confidence to accomplish those. Today I realised the value of living life again after meeting Vikram. I felt I get satisfied by feeding Vikram but he taught me a lesson by sharing his story. I found him being committed and taking on hard to deliver what he was supposed to.

I left him there for the day by saying, "good bye". I thought I was giving back to someone, from what I have got. But he gave me back what he has got, he gave me an inspiration.