The Act Or Kindness

Did I get it wrong on the title. 'The Act Of Kindness' would be more grammatically correct. Isn't it? But then who decides whats correct. "Of / Or" what suits best. I leave the decision to you.  But then decide when you reach the end...

I checked my watch. The watch showed 08:20 AM. It takes 8 minutes of casual walking to reach the bus stop from home. The winter morning radiated chill. The street was draped by a white transparent blanket of light fog. The cool breeze and the warm morning sun were exact contrast. But I felt good walking; hands tucked into my jacket pockets, lost in my own thoughts. 

Little ahead on road, I saw a boy of around 10-12 year old standing beside his bicycle. He was searching something frantically. He was checking his trouser pockets, then shirt pocket and the next moment he was trying to find something on the ground. He traced back few steps on road and repeated the same action. With a dejected look on his face, he ran back to his cycle and there he went again.. same pre-programmed procedure of searching. Little curious, I crossed the little chap on my walk trying to find a reasonable answer to his behavior.
He called out from behind, "Bhaiyaa.." He ran to me, as I stopped a little ahead from him. With more of kannada, a bit of hindi and throwing a word or two of broken english, he conveyed the meaning of his doing. He had lost Rs 100 somewhere on his way &  wanted me to help him. Ohh!!.. not in searching for his lost treasure but to replenish the lost amount from my treasury. I checked him out while he was trying his best to make me understand his plight. He was dusky in complexion, uncombed hair, not so clean dress, bathroom sleepers. He would have just woken up from bed before starting out on his misadventure. Must be from the poor neighborhood. I asked him to go home and tell the same to his family. NO NO. "I will get beaten up"; this is what I got from his half hindi and his mono acting where he slapped himself. Tears started flowing from his eyes. 

You can find people in Bangalore, who have made it their profession to loot you on basis of your  empathy. I have already been fooled before. Not this time. I told him to go home and walked past him with a indifferent attitude. But then, I found the chap dragging his cycle and following me. "Please" is the only word I was able to recognize. My mind told not to be fooled again. Is he lying? What will he do away with the money if he is lying???  Many a questions popped in my head.  The guy kept following me, walking beside me and walking ahead of me. Head down, occasionally raising it to see my face. 

Can somebody as little as him mask tears!!! What if I get fooled again on helping him but for something I did not care. A minute of walk left to the bus stop, I stopped, took out my wallet and handed over 5 ten rupee notes to him. This is what I have with me. As he took the notes, I walked on. I looked back and saw him still standing by his cycle checking the notes. I wondered what he is going to say to his family for the lost 50 rupees. If he was telling the truth, i am glad that I helped the poor soul but if he was lying, then believe me none of today's Bollywood or Hollywood actors stand a chance to his acting and I am privileged to witness a splendid act for a mere Rs 50. :)