In faith even the wrong is right by Preeta Krishna

A man had been on a long flight. The first warning of the approaching problems came when the sign on the airplane flashed on: 'Fasten your seat belts'. Then, after a while, a calm voice said, “We shall not be serving the beverages at this time as we are expecting a little turbulence. Please be sure your seat belt is fastened.” As he looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many of the passengers were becoming apprehensive. Later, the voice of the announcer said, “We are so sorry that we are unable to serve the meal at this time. The turbulence is still ahead of us.” And then the storm broke. The ominous cracks of thunder could be heard even above the roar of the engines. Lightening lit up the darkening skies and within moments that great plane was like a cork tossed around on a celestial ocean. One moment the airplane was lifted on terrific currents of air; the next, it dropped as if it were about to crash. The man shared the discomfort and fear of those around him. As he looked around the plane, he could see that nearly all the passengers were upset and alarmed. Some were praying. The future seemed ominous and many were wondering if they would make it through the storm. And then, he suddenly saw a girl to whom the storm meant nothing. She had tucked her feet beneath her as she sat on her seat and was reading a book. Everything within her small world was calm and orderly. Sometimes she closed her eyes, then she would read again; then she would straighten her legs, but worry and fear were not in her world. When the plane was being buffeted by the terrible storm, when it lurched this way and that, as it rose and fell with frightening severity, when all the adults were scared half to death, that marvellous child was completely composed and unafraid. The man could hardly believe his eyes. It was not surprising therefore, that when the plane finally reached its destination and all the passengers were hurrying to disembark, he lingered to speak to the girl whom he had watched for such a long time. Having commented about the storm and behaviour of the plane, he asked why she had not been afraid. The sweet child replied: “Sir, my Dad is the pilot and I was sure he will take me home.”

The Domino effect of Goodness by Preeta Krishna

The domino effect is a chain reaction that occurs when a small change causes a similar change nearby, which then will cause another similar change, and so on in linear sequence. It typically refers to a linked sequence of events where the time between successive events is relatively small. That day I did experience the domino effect of goodness. A small act of kindness from me triggered a series of good-hearted responses from the rest. That's all is needed - a genuine initiative - a simple act of goodness - and you know it is still a beautiful world with beautiful people.

I kept my laptop bag below my seat and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long journey of eight hours. “I'm glad I can take a nap,” I thought. Just then a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. “Where are you headed?” I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. “Srinagar! We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we'll be deployed at the border.”

After travelling for about an hour, a train attendant kept calling out, “Limited Meals Rs.50/-. Limited Meals Rs.50/-.” I felt a lunch would help me pass the time. As I reached for my wallet, I overheard one soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. “No, that seems like a lot of money for a lunch. I'll wait till we get to base.” His friend agreed. I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the attendant and handed over a thousand-rupee note. “Give lunch to all the soldiers.” He grabbed my arms and  squeezed it tightly. His eyes were wet with tears. He thanked me. “My brother is a soldier and he is somewhere out there fighting for the country in the Siachen region. It's almost like you are doing it for him.” Picking up lunch packs, he headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. After we finished eating, I headed towards the restroom. A man stopped me. “I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.” He handed me a five-hundred-rupee note. As I returned from the restroom, another man reached out his hand. Thinking he wanted to shake hands with me, I stretched my hands and he placed a five-hundred rupee note in my palm. When we reached the station, I gathered my laptop bag and alighted from the train. As I got down in the platform, another man said to me, “We all can help but it didn't strike us. We wait for the big occasions and miss out on these little acts of kindness. You taught me the most important lesson today. Giving should be a spontaneous action.” Saying so, he handed me over a thousand rupee note. I walked up to the soldiers who were gathered in the platform and handed over to them two thousand rupees and said, “It will take you sometime to reach the base. You will need this. God Bless You.” Twenty soldiers left the platform feeling the love and respect of their fellow travellers. As I walked briskly out of the station, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little... after all, these were courageous souls who are writing a blank cheque made payable to their country, for any amount 'up to and including their lives'.