It was a cloudy Saturday afternoon, I was walking back home from my school. Reaching near the street where my house is located, I was able to hear the continuous horns of vehicles and in a jiffy the traffic surrounded the area and the clouds broke down with a hint of drizzle. So I took a halt at the pavement by the side of the road, talking to one of my neighbors, as she was explaining about the tour from which she returned a day back. As I was tired, I was not in a mood to listen to her long, unwinding story. Thankfully, a little voice broke off her story in the middle. It was a tiny boy, the son of the iron person. He came to her house to deliver the clothes. Perceiving from his looks, he might be just 6 years old, but his clarity of thoughts and his fast math skills made me wonder. My neighbor settled him the ironing cost. As she started back the story, my eyes followed the little boy. The traditional wooden cycle was just a few steps away. His mother was ironing some clothes. As I stood watching them, I could see the tender fingers working with the hot coal. The boy was helping his mother to burn the coal down. At last, I bid goodbye to my neighbor and walked towards the cycle. Before I could ever start my conversation with them, the little boy started talking to me like we knew each other before. I was so happy to know from his mother that he was studying in the nearby school. No wonder that he was a class topper. His mother is the bread winner for their family of two. The daily wages that they earn from ironing the clothes is insufficient to lead a complete life. The boy attends school in the morning and helps his mother in delivering the clothes to the customers in the evening.  His mother exclaims that even though it is hard for her at times to get work done from her son, there is no other go. He aims to become an engineer when he grows up. His little dream not only ends here. The little boy with spark in his eye, innocence in his talk said I want to help the people who are needy. “I will grow big, become an engineer and help others” in his words. His little words of wisdom changed the way I approach my life.   Everyone expects to lead a life that is perfect, simple and peaceful. But life is not that easy always. We have to accept the challenges, face the obstacles and hurdles that cross by, and finally live a life that is worthy. As the cloud started clearing so as the confusions in my mind, I reached my house

                                                           -RANJANI.R