I often wonder how the primitive man lived and how his social skills were. The Homo Sapien had rarely more than 20-25 people living in the ‘city’ and everyone knew everyone else pretty well. Hence, even courting and seduction were worth killing for when love was at a high. Any new intrusion in the group changed the group dynamics completely which led to hitherto unexplored stages in the game.

Today, you are in a world with a 6.7 billion population. A number whose magnanimity is too difficult to fathom. And you find strangers everywhere. Your daily life is replete with unknown faces, unusual people. So, maybe you don’t work too hard on the courting game if you like a girl. Anyway this was what I understood from Evolutionary Psychology. But this post is not about The Game of Courting, rather it is focused on the 6.7 billion strangers around you.

I bunked college today to get the CAT (Common Admission Test) voucher from an Axis Bank branch located miles away from my place. I walked to the Bus Stand in the scorching sun (Believe me, its anything but monsoon out here) and since the seats were full, I just leaned backward on the railing which completely bent due to my weight and I was microseconds away from falling. Just happened to balance my weight and get up. This happened to quickly and a smile erupted on my face combining the li’l embarassment and laughter at what had just happened and my eyes met that of a middle aged auntie who smiled back at me. I felt so good. I guess, everyone feels great when a smile is flashed.

I read somewhere that eyes can detect a smile very quickly and the body then releases endorphins to make us feel better. So, the more you smile, the happier you get (even your hormones aid you in that). Anyway, after waiting for 15 minutes the bus did not turn up and hence I walked to the BRTS (Bus Rapid Transit System) stand nearby where trial runs of BRTS buses is on. These buses run in dedicated lanes in the centre of the widened road and are similar to the Metro Rail model in metropolitan cities. So, I had to take a ticket (price zero coz trial runs are on). I had trouble focusing due to the heat and sweat trickling down beneath my shirt and tickling my numbed skin and so on the ticket counter I asked for ‘Akhbarnagar’ (And that was the station I was standing on). The counter-wala smiled and I realized my goof-up. ‘Himmatlal Park’ I bellowed as a bus turned up on the station. His crisp actions immediately produced a ticket out of nowhere and place it betwixt my fingers.

Into the bus and finally some respite from the killing sun rays. Anyway, I got down at the stand and started looking for a rickshaw to take me to the bank. Found one and hopped in. As we were crossing the road a speeding scooter whizzed past as we escaped by a whisker. The traffic police caught hold of the scooter driver while my rickshaw driver looked into the mirror straight into my eyes and laughed amusedly. I happily complied. Into the bank, I stood in the line for the CAT form. After 10 minutes, the line still did not budge and I realized there were applicants for both CAT and XAT. And the XAT aspirants were taking up most of the time. In stepped the Security Guard whom I had asked for the location of CAT vouchers and he just whizzed past the line and picked up a form and handed it to me. Random acts of kindness go unappreciated. But I felt great. I sat down and completed the columns and handed it over to the man on the counter. When he handed me my voucher, I looked into his eyes and said a direct ‘Thank You’. No response. Stone face.

I often wonder if people are daydreaming or are caught up in some thought or simply indifferent? But whatever the case, even after wards, the bus conductor smiled and the bus driver stopped the bus infront of my college even though it was not a stand and I think a little kindness can truly make someone’s day. Make our daily activities easier and not a chore. Grease the axles to reduce friction for a smooth drive.

Randy Komisar, a venture capitalist, asked a Buddhist sage in Bhutan as to which question still troubled him (the monk). The monk bemusedly smiled and said he didn’t understand why people are still not kind to each other.

Siddhartha