DP Daily Prompt: Moment of Kindness Post by Ranu

English: Winter, 1962-63 – Snow clearance, top of Ormerod House driveway On this day it took one whole day to clear the snow from the full length of the driveway (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It was a few winters ago.We had knee-deep snow on our driveway.I got ready with my shovel to clear nature’s undue kindness.I came out and saw a girl walking in,’Hi,Mrs. Asgar’ she said,’Can I clear your driveway?’ I was taken aback,she knew I did not recognize her.She reminded me she was my former student. As I was chatting with her,five of her friends joined us,they cleared my driveway like professionals.

Not to be outdone I roasted a turkey with all the fix-ins and dessert for the girls.I knew they were university kids and  would like some home cooked meal.It was a pleasure cooking for these extremely thoughtful kids.

Only one girl knew me.The other girls were strangers. So I thought,’ Surely one good turn deserves another’.

“The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini Post by Ranu

First paperback edition book cover (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I read Khaled Hosseini’s, A Thousand Simple Suns and ,And The Mountains Echoed, each one was different. His first book,”The Kite Runner”,I finished reading an hour ago. My intention is not to criticize or applaud any part of the book.It is to write how I felt when I was reading it.

When I was a child I used to follow my two brothers to see what they will play next. It was not what I always thought,they changed their games ,on the basis of their own personal whim. One day I saw my brothers with some tissue paper,thread, little bamboo sticks. They were going to make their own kite and fly them. When they were playing with their kites,I thought it was a neat game. I helped them by holding the paper,I could not fly the kite,but loved watching my brothers.

When I finished reading, A Thousand  Simple Suns, everyone asked me is it better than the ,Kite Runner. I was not in a position to answer that question. Now that I feel I am, I have opted not to, but let them read and decide.

The kite Runner reminded me of those childhood days,when I watched my brothers make their own kite and fly them.  After reading the first few pages,I couldn’t decide whether I should continue or stop. I chose the former.I am not sorry I did.

It is commendable how Hosseini vividly portrayed some of the characters in the book. But then again we know there are good and bad people everywhere in this world.

There are three occasions in particular when my glasses kept fogging up. One was Sohrab’s earnest request to his uncle,not to send him back to the orphanage,the second one when Assef beat Amir mercilessly and Sohrab used his sling shot to save Amir. The third one when Amir prayed to God and promised he would never stop praying,will pay zakat,go for pilgrimage,he wanted God to save Sohrab . It was heartbreaking  when Sohrab said, ‘I want my old life back’.

I liked all his books. The Kite Runner, taught me about human nature and ultimately the lesson that if one sincerely asks God for help,he/she will not be denied!