TMD turns out to be Good: The Power of Words

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Prerna leaned forward, her eyes wide with anticipation. “Those people lifted the boy by his shoulders, one on either side, as he struggled with all his might to escape,” Aarushi continued, her voice low and intense. “He was fighting so hard, but then a voice came from the screen, sharp and commanding: ‘Stubborn.’ The moment that voice spoke, everyone in the room froze.”

“It should be TMD,” Prerna interrupted, her enthusiasm spilling over.

“Yes! Of course, it was him,” Aarushi confirmed, a knowing look in her eyes. “One of the two men responded, ‘Yes, brother! He doesn’t want to go with us.’ Then TMD, in a calm yet firm tone, addressed the boy directly, offering him 20 rupees if he would stay and talk with them for a few minutes. Astonishingly, the boy agreed.”

Prerna’s mouth fell open in surprise. “He agreed just like that?”

“Yes,” Aarushi nodded. “The moment the boy agreed, the men gently lowered him to the ground. The boy, still wary, asked, ‘Why are you kidnapping me? My father has nothing to give you.’ TMD, smiling slightly, replied, ‘Why would we give you money if we wanted to kidnap you?’”

Aarushi looked into Prerna’s eyes, noticing how intensely she was listening. Prerna wasn’t even blinking, completely absorbed in the story. Aarushi continued, “‘Why are you rejecting our offer?’ TMD asked the boy. ‘You can be happy and earn enough if you come with us. We’re offering you a better future.’”

Prerna’s eyebrows shot up, and she shook her head in disbelief. “What? Is that some kind of business deal? What business could a kid his age possibly do?”

Aarushi held up a hand to stop her. “Just listen, Prerna. This is the best part,” she said, her voice full of anticipation. “The boy looked TMD right in the eyes and said, ‘Even if I agree with you, go with you, and get an education, in the end, I’ll still have to earn money, and these years will be a waste of my time. Right now, I’m earning enough. So I don’t find your offer fair at all.’”

Prerna gasped, her voice full of surprise. “What! They were taking him to offer him education? I’m not even able to understand what’s happening.”

Aarushi nodded, a knowing smile on her face. “See, that’s where we all got it wrong at first. We mistook those people and TMD for something sinister, but it turned out they were trying to do good. They brought the boy to TMD so he could convince him to accept their help.”

Prerna leaned in, her curiosity piqued. “So, what happened then? Did TMD succeed in convincing the kid?”

Aarushi’s smile widened as she continued, “Well, TMD had a way with words. He didn’t push the boy; instead, he asked him what he truly wanted in life. The boy thought about it for a moment and he said, ‘I haven’t really thought about it, but the most important thing right now is earning money. Money buys me respect.’

Prerna leaned in, completely absorbed. “And what did TMD say to that?”

Aarushi’s voice softened as she recounted the moment. “TMD looked at the boy and gently asked, ‘Why do you think money can buy you respect?’ The kid had probably never been asked such a question before. He hesitated for a moment, then began, ‘Ummm… see, I don’t have money, and that’s why everyone gets irritated and hesitates to even look at me. But I see everyone and respect everyone because they have more money than me.’”

Prerna’s eyes widened as she listened, fully engrossed in the conversation. Aarushi continued, “The boy’s words were simple, but they carried the weight of his experience. It was clear that, in his young mind, he had come to believe that respect was something you had to buy with money because that’s how the world around him seemed to work.”

Aarushi nodded agreeing with Prerna and continued to share her experience,” On hearing that TMD went on to explain that while money can bring certain comforts, true respect is earned through character, kindness, and how you treat others. He told the boy that real success comes from being the best version of yourself, not just from how much you can earn.”

Prerna’s expression shifted from surprise to deep thought. “That’s such a powerful thing to say, especially to a kid who’s had to grow up so fast.”

Aarushi nodded in agreement. “Exactly. TMD wasn’t just offering the boy an education; he was offering him a different perspective on life. It wasn’t about convincing him to accept the offer right then and there—it was about planting a seed of thought that might grow later. And that’s what made TMD different. He didn’t force his will on anyone; he respected their choices, but he also made them think.”

Prerna leaned in closer, her interest piqued as Aarushi continued the story. “Being just a kid, he couldn’t quite grasp what TMD was trying to convey at first. TMD noticed the confusion on his face and decided to explain with a simple story.

‘TMD began, ‘There was a boy who was begging in the streets, and by accident, he fell onto the road. His knees were bleeding, and his hands were trembling, unable to hold the plate he was using to collect coins. A man passing by noticed him and placed 500 rupees in his plate without saying a word. But then, out of nowhere, another boy ran to the injured kid. He took him to the nearest healthcare center, got him treated, and even asked his parents for permission to feed him some food. Now, tell me, whom do you respect more—the man who gave 500 rupees or the boy who helped him get to the hospital?’”

Aarushi paused, letting the weight of the story sink in. Prerna’s eyes were wide with anticipation as she asked, “What did the boy say? Who did he respect more?”

Prerna’s eyes glistened as she listened, captivated by the unfolding story. Aarushi’s voice carried the warmth and depth of the moment as she continued, “TMD’s words seemed to strike a chord with the boy. He looked up at TMD, his confusion slowly giving way to understanding. TMD leaned in slightly and said, ‘Dear child, here’s the thing: It doesn’t matter how much money you have. What truly matters is the love and time you spend on others living alongside you on this planet. That kid in the story unconditionally showed love and care, which earned him respect.

‘The beggar boy could get treatment from the money he was given, but it’s the love and education that teach you to do things that make everyone around you happy. That’s what truly earns you respect in society and makes you proud of yourself.’”

Aarushi paused, her smile growing as she remembered the moment. “I could see the change in the boy’s expression. It was like he was hearing something completely new, something that made him rethink everything he believed about money and respect. In that moment, I realized how powerful TMD’s words were, how they had the ability to touch someone’s heart and change their perspective on life.”

“What did the kid say next?” Prerna asked, unable to contain her eagerness.

Aarushi, catching the excitement in Prerna’s expression, couldn’t help but smile. “You won’t believe it,” she said, her tone playful. “The kid looked up at TMD and said, ‘Okay! I may agree with you for now and go with them, but what if what you told me turns out to be wrong when I start your education in this society?’”

Prerna gasped, “What a bold thing to say!”

Aarushi chuckled. “Exactly! The kid was smart, skeptical even. He wasn’t just going to accept things blindly. He wanted assurance that TMD’s promises would hold true in the real world. It was clear that this boy had seen enough of life to know that things don’t always go as promised. He was questioning not just TMD’s words, but the entire idea of hope and trust in a world that had been harsh to him.”

Aarushi’s eyes sparkled as she continued, drawing out the moment. “TMD didn’t rush to answer. He just smiled, a kind of knowing smile, and said, ‘That’s a fair question. Life doesn’t always go as planned, and I can’t promise you that everything will be easy. But what I can promise you is this: with an education, you’ll have the tools to make better choices, to stand on your own, and to help others too. It’s not about making things perfect, but about giving you the chance to shape your own path.’”

Prerna was on the edge of her seat. “And then? Did the boy agree?”

Aarushi nodded slowly. “The boy thought about it for a long moment, weighing his options. Finally, he looked up at TMD and said, ‘Okay, I’ll give it a try. But I’m not going to forget what you said. I’m going to hold you to it.’ And with that, he agreed to go with them, ready to see if this new path could really offer him something better.”

Prerna let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. “Wow, that’s incredible. TMD really knew how to reach him.”

Aarushi smiled. “He did. And that’s when I realized there was so much more to TMD than just the mystery surrounding him. He wasn’t just a man in the shadows—he was someone who genuinely cared about making a difference, one person at a time.”

Prerna’s voice was almost a whisper, her eyes wide in disbelief. “Now I get it… why you were so certain that Karthik would be safe with TMD,” she murmured, her mouth slightly agape as the realization settled in.