Yesterday night, exhausted from drafting contracts, with tired eyes and a dizzy mind, I was traveling back home in the Mumbai locals after a long day. It felt like a wounded warrior retreating after a day full of battles. Amidst this, my attention caught a young boy in distress sitting next to me, with teary eyes, wiped away with the sleeve of his shirt.

Out of concern, I gently asked him why was he crying and co-incidentally, he was a law student who had just completed his 3 year llb course from a private college, and in a scared tone, he explained that he had failed to convert his law internship (1 month) into a pre-placement offer or even an assessment internship at mid-sized tier II law firm. He shared how he was the only son of a family, and belongs to a lower-middle class background, with limited contact in the legal industry. The pressure from his peers and family overwhelmed him, and he broke down further in tears.

As a lawyer who had faced similar struggle early in life, his pain felt personal. I shared my own story the trauma, the confusion, and the setbacks I endured and offered him some valuable advice on overcoming challenges and focusing on his goals.

But this isn't a story about how I helped someone. The real message here is about kindness. Everyone we meet is fighting their own battles, in most of the cases invisible to us. Taking just a moment out of our busy lives to offer support, encouragement, or even a kind word can make an immense difference to someone struggling.

So, next time you see someone in despair, pause. Be the hope they seek. Because in the end, if not us, then who?