An unsung hero

This is a true story of my friend Usha.

The story begins with Usha driving home from her frenetic day at work. She is running late and the gridlock traffic on the road is not making her situation any better. She knows of a small abandoned alley which connects her work place and her home. If she takes this alley, this would reduce her drive time by 10 minutes or more. She knows that driving through that lane is prohibited but she also is 100% sure that there wouldn’t be any cop patrolling that alley. That day, frustrated and wanting to reach home early, she takes that derelict passage. Unfortunately for her doom, she is caught by a traffic cop on that day. She could have been sent home with a warning, which by the way was very feasible, but instead she is given a traffic ticket worth of 250$. Completely upset and irritated, Usha curses the officer on her way home. A simple mistake that would have been forgiven for, but is bashed with such huge penalty was just agonizing her. She, out of her sheer anger, appeals for an evil or misfortune to befall on that officer.

Just after two days of this incidence, Usha is flabbergasted to watch local news on her TV reporting a deadly accident involving the same officer who gave her ticket. The officer survived but is in need of a blood donor. Usha remembers this officer distinctively; the ticket episode was rewinding in her mind for the past two days now. Usha isn't happy to see this news. She is not angry or frustrated anymore but felt very bad for all the things she cursed him for. She never meant any of her curses to come true, not even in her wild dreams. Usha feels completely guilt burdened; she wants to help. Upon some inquiries, Usha learns that there is a blood drive in the community to help the officer. This is a perfect opportunity for Usha to help. She visits the blood drive center and donates her blood.

When she told me this story, I had to ask her what made her donate the blood. She said the officer was just doing his job. She is guilty of breaking the law and using the prohibited alley in the first place. She never ever wanted any harm to befall on that officer. Donating blood is the least she can do to help; an answer to her curse and her peace of mind. She told me that she will never ever curse anyone; she is afraid those curses might come true.

Did they give Usha’s blood to that officer? I don’t know the answer to that. To me it’s irrelevant. The fact that Usha gave her blood shows her caring and helping nature. I bet she would donate blood, even if its not that officer. To me she is an unsung hero. The officer will never know anything about Usha’s deed nor anyone in his world. There are amazing people like Usha who just do what feels true without being recognized and praised for.

Little background about Usha:

Usha is a beautiful, energetic, vivacious young woman. She is happily married and blessed with two wonderful kids. The first thing I noticed about Usha is how very lean she is, weighing merely 105 pounds for her stature of 5 feet 4 inches. I was told by her husband that she is a regular blood donor back in India. He admits he dislikes this fact mainly because of her weight. He feels she is too skinny to donate blood every month. She, on the other hand, feels blessed to be of some help to an ailing person. By the way she donated the blood to the officer without the knowledge of her husband. She had a feeling he might not approve of her decision.