Little Big People

Since 5 days I am living in a Big Hotel in a Metro, attending an International conference in a Bigger Hotel with Big people. Two people who inspired me and influenced me are these two Little Big People, perhaps the least ones working in these hotels.

We had one problem or the other every night with the hotel reception; trying to get the extra money that we had paid by mistake refunded and to rectify the room phone and change the dirty blankets covered in white sheets etc. Third night of our stay became a nightmare before we could sleep, as we were verbally abused by one of the staff for asking for the refund. We decided to lose the money and save our dignity. Fretting and fuming we came to our room and found the phone not working. The technician came, a dark thin guy with very compassionate eyes. He sat on the floor and started his work. He couldn't escape our discussion and tone of humiliation in our voices and asked us ''Ma'am, any problem?" His concern made me answer our problem in one or two sentences. He told us that there is a night manager who is available to sort out issues and was truly empathetic. His composed humble tone stated his devotion to God and his eyes radiated peace. In a few minutes the night manager came to our room and we got a positive answer. Though his uniform was dark blue pants and shirt, his heart was whiter than all of the white collared staff who walked in shining shoes. 

The ever smiling little figure moved in and out of the toilets and kept on wiping the wash basins and the granite platform and floor from 9 am to 9 pm. She has no friends to chat, no fresh air to breathe...she is confined to the four walls of the 5 star Hotel's AC toilet. In her khaki uniform and black shoes, she worked tirelessly. Last evening, she kept on watching my friend adjusting her party wear sari by the dressing table of the toilet. Soudhanya (that is her name) saw to it that the sari was properly worn; she helped my friend so sincerely with sisterly affection. She also offered my friend a hair pin to fix her hair. To my friendly questions she answered that she is a young widow who was abandoned by the in-laws, living with her mother. She has a school-going daughter. She starts at 7 30 am from home, returns after 9 pm from the hotel, reach home around 10 30 pm, taking a shared auto, then a bus, and walking 10 minutes in the dark. The short dark thin girl tells me, "When someone comes I shout at them. That saves me from them". Her eyes were radiant and bright and there was contentment and hope in her words. I just loved her. A Hindu, recently converted to Christianity, she told me how her faith is taking her ahead in life. Not the glittering tiles and gorgeous chandeliers of the 5 star hotel, but it is the secret behind Soudhanya's smile that amazed me the most. 

As I move off from this place today I carry a smile with me, that was gifted by these two people, Soudhanya and the electrician (whose name I don't know). It is not the vast dark sky, but the little twinkling stars that makes the hearts leap. And to know the grandeur of these stars, we must go closer to them; otherwise they remain 'little' in our minds.

            The most beautiful sight that fills my heart is good souls found in human form. There's no way to purify the world through the worldly possessions; rather soul's purity is Divine gift bestowed on His devotees by the Omnipotent God.

Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the Kingdom. Luke 12:38 (The Holy Bible)

God purposely chose what the world considers nonsense in order to shame the wise, and he chose what the world considers weak in order to shame the powerful. 1 Corinthians 1: 27 (The Holy Bible)