I dropped the bag and ran forward.

I kicked the boy in the chest as he flew.

He landed about two feet away.

“Oh dad! Oh mom!” he screamed, shaking his hands and feet.

“What’s wrong now? Why are you screaming ‘oh dad, oh mom’?” I asked in an angry tone.Hey, no words are coming out after that kick, huh? Guess you got hit in just the right spot!

“Come here, come here. Let’s see how big a man you’ve become.”

You had been talking big, taking advantage of the girl’s weakness.

“Where’s everything now? Did it all spill out the back?”

“And you all are the friends of that boy. Come, I’ll teach you all a lesson. Come on, hurry—are you scared again?”

Two of the boy’s friends ran up and started hitting me.

As soon as one of them kicked me hard, he started screaming.

When the other hit me hard on the chest with his elbow, he began to roll on the ground.

I looked at them, laughing.

“Is this the strength of your body? One kick from his foot and he’s flat on the sand, and you’re rolling around.

You were talking big from behind, laughing at your friend’s words. Where did that laughter go?”

Both of them took a couple of hits and ran away.

One ran crawling, the other rolled and ran.

Only their first friend was lying on the sand, still wincing.

I walked up to him, anger in my eyes.

“Look, I’m telling you clearly. Pay for the damage you did to the stall, and for everything you ate or ruined.

If you don’t pay, don’t think you’ll go home safely today.

You’re still wincing after one hit. Another one in a spot like this will make you cry for the rest of your life.

Now tell me, will you pay or take a beating?”

The boy said in a trembling voice, “No, no, I’ll pay everything. Please don’t hit me anymore. Oh mom, it hurts!”

His hands were shaking; our eyes met.

“Good. If you had done this earlier, you wouldn’t be in such pain.

If you had paid willingly, you could have gone home smiling. There’s no medicine for hitting. Two hits on the back, and everything sets straight.

Give it, quickly. Go from here. And remember, if I ever see you bothering anyone again, you’ll know what will happen.” I said.

“No, I won’t bother anyone anymore. Here’s the money, with compensation. Now please let me go,” he pleaded, crying.

I took the money and went to the girl’s stall.

“Here, take this. It’s the compensation for all the damage they caused. Why are you here alone, selling in such a big place? Why didn’t you bring anyone? They were taking advantage of your weakness.”

The girl smiled.

“Thank you, for getting the money from them. Why, can’t I sell here?”

“No, I didn’t mean that, You” 

“Oh, you mean because I can’t see, I’m here alone? So what?

Who said a blind person can’t do business? No one says that life’s every step will be protected by family.

One day, I’ll have to choose my own path. That’s why it’s good to have these experiences from now.

And if I ever face such trouble again, I’ll seek help if a good person like you is around—that thought alone is enough.” she said, looking brave.

Hearing her words and seeing her courage left me astonished. Yet, I was happy too.

Despite her weakness, she had adapted so beautifully.

How many people in this world want to achieve something despite their weaknesses?

“You come here alone?” I asked.

“No, I come with my grandfather. He drops me here and goes into the city for business. I stay here,” she told me.

At that moment, a mini pickup truck honked from behind and stopped.

“Era, come. It’s time to go,” an older man shouted.

“I’m coming, I haven’t packed everything yet. Wait a bit,” she said.

Oh, so her name is Era.

The name matched her face perfectly.

As beautiful as her face, so is her name.

I bid farewell to Era.

“Alright then. Your grandfather is calling. If fate allows, we’ll meet again.”

Saying this, I picked up the bag and started walking back.