Pride

Train journeys aren't always very easy. Noisy co-passengers,long halts at night, dirty washrooms; the list could go on and on. But on my recent train journey to Kolkata, my mind was gripped by an unusual incident.
The train had stopped at Khudra Road Station for half an hour. There was a stream of people coming, including sellers of tea, newspapers and many other things. There was a cobbler who came into our compartment and he was polishing a man's shoes. The cobbler didn't look like he earned a lot.
He had finished polishing the shoes and had even fixed the soles. He asked the man to pay him forty rupees but the man paid him only twenty. He asked again and the man refused. The cobbler kept the money on the berth and left, not even bothering to look back.

Maybe the cobbler didn't have a decent meal that day but he was lulled into a content sleep as he had not lost his pride or dignity to a miser.