WHY ARE WE?

It was a Sunday that day and early morning when I zipped off in my car to take rounds in the hospital, Chaitra usually used to accompany me on holidays to the rounds.
The traffic was sparse and I casually jumped a red signal at a crossing. After a few seconds I saw a traffic cop in my rear view mirror, hot on his heels, atop a bullet bike. I slowed down and parked the car. He started berating me for breaking the signal and lamented about my negligent attitude.His mocking behavior shocked Chaitra who could not understand the ensuing argument between us. She started crying.
Children are taught to be scared of cops and they usually panic when their dear ones are being interrogated by them. She was no exception.
Normally, a doctor is leniently let off by them but this cop was adamant and was venting out all his repressed anger on me. I was trying to gain his sympathy by constantly pleading and asking for forgiveness.
He demanded to see my driving licence.
I scanned my wallet but it was not there, I had kept it in my wife's car!
His eyes beamed with further vengeance but a wry smile appeared on his face.
I got the message and curtly handed him a 100 rupee note.He was happy now and all the venom had been diluted with this gesture of mine.
I was immediately let off with a stern warning not to break traffic rules in the future.
Chaitra was a mute spectator to this whole ruckus and kept quiet all the time in the car.
As we reached home, she just asked me one question.
'AjjuPapa' Why did you pay money to the cop?
I had no immediate answer but that question rattled me and shook the earth beneath my feet.
An innocent child saw a seemingly normal day to day act but thought of it as a wrong one.
I had failed my daughter that day.
I vowed to make amends.
I always blamed and everyone for rampant corruption in our country.
The weeds of corruption were watered by people like me.
The donors were equally responsible as the recepients.
Guilt pervaded my soul.
I now wait patiently at all the red signals, even in the dead of the night.
My little child could bring about a much needed change in me.
Such small changes in every person will definitely make this world, a better one.
Children communicate with your soul. They never lie. They are never afraid of the truth.
Why are we?