Happiness is sum of little things.

Mary and I sometimes come together during work. Mary may be a decade older than my Mom, works very hard and is better known for her perpetual silence. She comes to work, works & leaves, utters very few words throughout the day. When somebody greets her, she replies with eyes, neither polite nor rude, but always tight lipped. Nobody knows much about Mary, her story remains untold as a story inside writer’s pen.

She looked same when I met her last time, expressionless and intelligent may be more than she actually is (her silence and specs aggrandizes her intelligence). I assumed she replied with eyes behind thick power glasses, when I said “Hi”. That day we both were involved in same project, our desks pretty close with glasses full of "coca-cola classic" on it. In course of work I took the glass of Coke (not realizing it was Mary’s) sipped mouthful but before swallowing I heard “That’s mine”. I spat immediately, dumped the glass, picked up new one and moved towards her. She was already on the move towards vending machine, I interrupted “I am very sorry, I will get new one for u”. She stopped and said “I prefer lots of ice”. I replied “sure” and moved towards vending machine, with my left hand inside left pocket searching coins. I was wondering why she had to wait until I sipped her drink. She could have interrupted right away when I picked her glass as I was just in front. Probably it was propagation delay from heart ( or mind or whatever it is) to tongue as she is not very much accustomed to speak. I returned and handed “ice & coke” mix to her and repeated “I am sorry” again. She was silent, may be she thanked through eyes once again.

Later, I had to leave my workstation for about twenty minutes. On return, I found my half filled glass was replaced with brimful glass of “Coke and ice” mix. I looked toward her, “I guess yours was warmed up and thought u would enjoy the chilled one”, she had actually bought it for me and this time it was not only eyes that spoke. I certainly enjoyed the “chilled one”; I enjoyed her kindness even more and now it was my turn to remain silent.


“It is not great deeds from which happiness springs, but just the sum of little things"