The Lantern in the Rain
It was a dark evening in a tiny village and it was raining cats and dogs. The entire village turned empty with the residents scurrying into their respective houses. Everyone remained inside except for an old woman named Meera.
Meera lived in a small hut on the outskirts of the village with no other inhabitants to support her. She was a kind and humble soul with a smile that lit up the room. Though she was a pauper, she always helped the ones who needed it.
That evening, she spotted a small, dim light flickering outside her window. Curious, she put on a shawl and stepped out in the rain. A few meters away she saw a young boy crying his heart out while sitting under a tree, cold and shivering.
Approaching him gently, she asked.
“Son, why are you sitting in the rain like this?”
The boy looked at her with watery eyes and replied, “My name is Arjun and I was traveling to the next village with my uncle but lost him in the market and don’t know how to find him.”
Meera’s heart felt for the boy and she took him to her hut. She changed his wet clothes with a dry one, gave him a warm blanket, and offered him a bowl of steaming vegetable soup.
Arjun smiled for the first time that evening.
The rain poured throughout the night. Meera placed an old lantern at her window.
“Why is the lantern at the window?” asked Arjun.
“For anyone looking for you, the light may help them find you,” said Meera.
Hours went by and the storm continued but the lantern kept on flickering.
Around midnight someone knocked at her door. On opening it, a drenched man asked her frantically, “Have you seen a young boy named Arjun?”
Arjun ran to the door, “Uncle!”
The man hugged him tightly with relief written on his face. “I searched for you everywhere and then saw this lantern as the only light in the rain.” He thanked Meera with a lot of emotion and said, “Thank you not only for taking care of Arjun but also for being the guiding light in helping me find him.”
Meera smiled and replied, “Sometimes a little light is enough.”
Years later, Arjun never forgot that night. He grew up being as compassionate as Meera. He became a teacher and often recounted the incident of the lantern to his students. When asked why kindness was important, he’d say, “Because you never know which darkness you’re lighting up with just one act of kindness.”
Meera’s lantern also remained in the villagers’ memory, as a symbol of hope, kindness, and love. It may have faded, but its memory continues to shine in everyone’s heart.
Moral of the story: Kindness is important, for a small act of kindness may act as a guiding light in a dark world.
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