The 20$ Bill

A Christmas eve in New York city should be exciting. Time square probably is the brightest junction in the world. Then that World’s tallest Christmas tree at rock feller? Another important place to pose in front of. I shall meet my best friend after a gap of 8 long months since I left India. That makes this trip all the more special. I shall go with him to the World’s most powerful capital, The Washington DC. I am going to be happy for the next 4 days. My heart was pounding with excitement as I waited at the Appleton airport for my flight to arrive at the gates. My excitement quickly changed into perturbation when the speaker announced a delay in flight due to pilot problems.


I have to reach New Jersey tonight. I was determined. The connecting flight at Detroit should be delayed too. I prayed. All my prayers went in vain. The last flight to New Jersey has already departed from Detroit. I waited in the long queue patiently for hours, explaining the situation to my friend on phone. I was provided a hotel room to stay for the night and got my flight tickets booked early in the morning to reach the La Guardia airport in New York. An overnight delay might mess up with the tour plan I thought. It will be almost afternoon when I reach there. And I have already missed the fun of Christmas eve. It ached.

After resolving an issue that my fellow passenger (a colleague) had, I reached the hotel room post midnight. The day broke and I was ready to get into the first shuttle to the airport. Wishing a merry Christmas to all the unknown faces in the hotel reception, with a warm smile, I got into the shuttle. Walk, walk and walk miles inside the Detroit airport and finally I was there at the terminal. A window seat should be mind blowing I thought. I can capture a few aerial photographs of the New York city. As the flight lands, I shall have the beautiful sky scrappers trapped in my eye piece. Fortunately it was one.

A charming cute child with a pink hat and coolers came dancing through the walk way of plane with her mother swiftly following up. As I looked into her eyes, I could see the innocence, anxiety, happiness and excitement. She is in all smiles. Should be 4 years old. Within minutes I understood that she will be my neighbor for the next 2 hours. Her activities bought in a great deal of nostalgia. I remembered how I used to crave for vacations and long hours journey. Meeting my cousins and going around places. Those were the best days of my life I thought.

Now there is a dilemma. I know how I used to fight for the window seat during my childhood. Why Childhood? I still do :-). The child in us is still awake. Even a while ago I was thinking about it. But now, a 4 year old will be happier to be there I thought. Even for me it’s the first time. I want to enjoy the beauty of the cities underneath as the flight flows through the sky. Should I still give it to her. She never asked for it but still, she would love it. I know. I could see that in her eyes. Finally I made up my mind. I am giving it to her this time. I can probably capture the sky scrappers from the ground and of course there is always this another time. But will I ever get a glimpse of that child’s beautiful smile again in my life time?

I started talking to her. She should be from Iraq, Arabia or may be India. The traditional Muslim costume that her mother wore indicated. I asked her to take the window seat and I got back what I expected. A million dollar smile :-)

She was so happy. That made me happier. I was talking to her mom too who was in her late thirties. Seemed to be a nice women. She was talking about my profession and my reason for traveling. About my family for sometime and then my education. I came to know that they belong to Punjab but have got settled in United states a few years ago. All the while the child was enjoying her window view. I realized the pleasure of sacrifice. As the drinks and snacks came in, I took the responsibility of helping the child drink and eat those.

After a nap, I again woke up to see her enlightened face. The flight was about to land. The following conversation took place between me and the child’s mom Ms. McSuda when she unexpectedly pulled out a 20$ bill from her wallet and gifted it to me.

McSuda: Please have this as my gift

Me: Not at all! Please… but Why?

McSuda: When you go back to India get something for your mom with this money

Me: No aunty.. I won’t take this. I shall convey your regards to her. That should do.

McSuda: Son! Listen to me… I know you are earning a lot probably more than we do. I know you are capable of getting your mom the best of things that are around. I am not giving this to you , because you don’t have it but I wanted to gift a mother who should be proud and happy to have yielded such a nice boy…

It’s a great thing to be a mother. You will not understand. :-)

Me: speechless!

She just smiled and requested me to take it.

I again objected. I told her, I just need her blessings and nothing else. She forced the 20$ note into my palm and wished me a long life and a successful career. I thanked her. That was my first ever Christmas gift. A Muslim presenting a Christmas gift to a Hindu on an auspicious day. I thought, above caste, creed, culture and religion, affection and humanity prevails. That Thursday was no less than the best days of my life.

The flight landed. The child departed happily waving her hands at me and I waved back with a gratified, peaceful and ecstatic heart. I still hold the 20$ note safe in my wallet and I shall gift my mom with something bought out of this.

True! If at all I am a little good, I owe it all to my parents. When I spoke to my mom, she was puzzled initially but when I explained, she just told I am good. I don’t know what made McSuda think that she should gift my mom. Probably it’s between mothers which I don‘t understand. :-)

I then reached my friends place and we had an excellent and tiring trip. It was fun. The capital house, white house, Washington monument, time square, the wall street, Brooklyn bridge, the empire state and the statue of liberty. And much more of this kind. But undoubtedly the 20$ bill still remained the best.

PS: The New York trip was an interesting one and had many awakening, comical, frustrating and tiring incidents. I shall write about those sometime.