I travel back and forth to school by bus everyday. Sometimes I am lucky to get an empty seat to rest my feet and and keep my heavy school bag down. It was in the evening, while I was travelling back home from school that I found an empty seat to sit. On the next stop, a very old couple got into the bus. Only the old woman managed to get a seat for herself. The old man had to stand along with the other passengers. Out of respect for such an elderly person, I got up from my seat and offered it to the old man. As the old man moved toward the seat, a young and well dressed man pushed past the other passengers in the bus and grabbed the seat which I had emptied for the old man.

I was astonished and puzzled at this young man's behaviour. I tried talking and explaining to the man, but he was adamant and did not budge from his place. I felt as if my words fell on dumb ears. At last when I asked the person to get up from the seat he starred angrily at me.

The old man was very moved by this and said to me, ``It's okay my son I can stand. I am very sorry that because of me you had to lose your seat.''

I knew then, that I couldn't just give up. In the meantime, the other people in the bus came to know about the whole episode. They backed me in this harshly scolded the young man. Seeing the strong support for me, the man got got up from the seat. When all the people asked to him say `sorry', he unwillingly asked the old man to forgive him. The kind hearted old man willingly forgave him. The young man then got down from the bus on the next stop only. I helped the old man to sit. He and his wife thanked me and gave a sweet smile. For one moment I felt as if they were my grandparents and I was very happy that I had won the cause for them.

After sometime my stop came and as I was getting down from the bus I looked at the old couple. They were still smiling at me. When I reached home I narrated this incident to my parents. They were very happy and proud.

However i was very sad knowing, that in this world there were so many people who did not respect their elders. If this young man could be so rude to people who were like his own grandparents, how would he behave with his parents?

I hope that the man was taught a nice lesson and will not behave in a similar manner in the future. If older people behave like this then how will the younger behave? What example are they setting for the generations to come? So dear friends do strive to help and respect old people because they are our parents and parents are a form of God. Remember `God helps those who help others.'