Aarav hurried through the crowded metro station, his mind weighed down by endless deadlines, unanswered messages, and the dull ache of exhaustion. The world around him blurred into a sea of hurried footsteps, blank faces, and distant voices. It had been a long time since he had stopped to truly look at anything, let alone appreciate it. Life had become a checklist—one task after another, completed without emotion.
As he stepped onto the train, he barely noticed the elderly woman struggling with her heavy shopping bags. She was leaning against the metal pole, adjusting her grip, but the weight was too much. Aarav hesitated, his mind debating whether to help or keep scrolling through his emails like everyone else.
“Excuse me,” he finally said, stepping forward. “Let me carry that for you.”
The woman looked up, surprised. For a moment, it seemed as if she didn’t expect kindness anymore. Then, a warm smile spread across her wrinkled face. “That’s very sweet of you, dear. Not many stop to help these days.”
Aarav nodded but said nothing as he took the bags from her trembling hands. They were heavier than he had expected. What was an old woman doing, carrying such a load alone? As the train lurched forward, he steadied her with his free hand, making sure she had a firm grip on the railing.
“Where are you getting off?” he asked.
“The next stop,” she said, a grateful glint in her eyes.
When they arrived, he carefully set her bags down at the station exit. She patted his arm, her fingers cool but comforting. “You have a kind heart, young man,” she said softly. “It’s rare to see these days.”
Before he could respond, she reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a small folded piece of paper. She pressed it into his palm with a knowing smile.
“Read it when you need it,” she said, and with that, she disappeared into the crowd.
Aarav stood there for a moment, puzzled. Then, curiosity got the best of him, and he unfolded the note.
In neat, flowing handwriting, it read:
“Appreciation is a gift. The more you give, the richer you become.“
Aarav stared at the words. Something deep inside him stirred. When was the last time he had truly appreciated anything? His mother’s late-night phone calls checking in on him, his best friend’s unwavering support, his colleagues covering for him when he struggled—he had taken it all for granted.
That night, on a whim, he sent a simple “Thank you for everything” text to his mother. She called back within seconds, her voice brimming with joy. “Are you okay?” she asked. “It’s been so long since you said something like that.”
Aarav chuckled, feeling an unexpected warmth spread through him. “I’m fine, Ma. Just… grateful.”
The next day at work, he thanked his assistant, Priya, for always organizing his meetings flawlessly. She blinked in surprise, then smiled. “That means a lot, Aarav. Thank you.”
Little by little, something changed. He started paying attention—to the security guard who greeted him every morning, to the barista who remembered his coffee order, to his best friend Rohan, who always listened without judgment. Each time he expressed appreciation, the weight on his shoulders felt lighter.
A week later, he found himself on the metro again. This time, he wasn’t lost in his phone or drowning in stress. He was present. He watched people—young and old, lost in their own worlds.
Then, he saw a young boy struggling with an oversized backpack, his small hands gripping the straps tightly. Without hesitation, Aarav bent down and smiled. “Here, let me help you.”
The boy looked up, startled, but nodded. “Thank you, bhaiya,” he mumbled shyly.
As Aarav lifted the bag, he felt something familiar—a sense of purpose, of connection. A simple act, yet it meant everything.
As he got off at his stop, he reached into his pocket, pulled out the old woman’s note, and smiled. He wasn’t just carrying bags—he was carrying forward kindness, appreciation, and the lesson that sometimes, the smallest gestures leave the biggest impact.
And just like that, the cycle of appreciation continued.
The Momma Clan 
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