Basic Instinct

"Oopst!" I sounded so loud that the service provider doing photocopying for me for the first time could hear that. "I forgot to bring my wallet." I said embarrassingly. The originals were precious to me, as they documented my government work life from May 27, 1974 to March 5, 2o15.

"Could I have the originals back before collecting the copies with the money?" I suggested, knowing in law the service provider had a lien on my originals until the debt was discharged. "You can keep them all then!" He said as he passed the originals and copies to me without any condition. I gratefully remarked: "I'll be back, definitely!" as I left hastily.

"I should take great care of myself so that no accident would prevent me from honouring my words with action." I thought. "I was too preoccupied in getting a task done, neglecting the means to achieve that." I reflected. When I turned around and walked in the direction of the photocopying shop again, I felt good.

I was relieved when I finally fulfilled my legal and moral obligations. Although the service provider behaved as if business as usual, I felt he was pleased that his trusting instinct was right. While a lien is a man-made right to address a wrong, trust is a good human basic instinct!