Amma smiled and pointed to the mountain path. “Tomorrow, carry this pot of water to the temple on the hill. Along the way, you’ll meet three people. Offer them water. But use the word ‘apne’ when you speak to them. Then come back and tell me if the word made a difference.”
Amma patted his head. “That’s the magic, Raghav. ‘Apne’ isn’t just a word. It’s a bridge.” Amma smiled and pointed to the mountain path
Further up, he saw a young girl crying because she had lost her way. He called out, “Don’t worry, apne behen. I know this path.” The girl wiped her tears and followed him to the fork where her house lay. She smiled and said, “Thank you, apne bhaiya.” Raghav felt a bond he had never noticed before. Offer them water
Finally, near the temple, he met an old man who had slipped on the wet stones. Raghav helped him up and said, “Hold my shoulder, apne pitaji (father).” The old man’s eyes glistened. “I lost my son last year,” he whispered. “No one has called me ‘pitaji’ since.” “That’s the magic, Raghav
He ran back to Amma and hugged her. “You were right,” he said. “‘Apne’ turns strangers into family. It makes the world less lonely.”