I have always
felt that we human beings…. u, me and us are here on this planet with some kind
of support system. We are not abandoned on this planet.
Consciously we may not
be aware of this fact but if we just analyze any situation we have experienced
or endured, it would become evident that either we are lending support to someone;
however trivial it may be or it may be the other way round.
It can be an emotional,
financial, moral support but it goes a long way to energize a person. It is not
necessary that we go out of our way to show kindness or support, a smile, an
encouraging word, a pat on the shoulder, a helping hand in tough times.
I always
like to reminisce at the end of the day and often it brings a smile on my face
remembering it or the anger at some unjust behaviour of somebody.
But it
confirms my belief that we may be treading on our own paths but we all are not aloof
or lonely. We just have to look around and be sensitive to experience it. I am sharing one such incident …….
One cloudy evening, in Kanpur city at the Mall road...
Darkness was thickening
and evening advanced. My car was
parked at the roadside while I waited for the street vendor
to bring snacks (chat) I had ordered.
Indian roadside eating joints are not
considered a very clean or hygienic but they do serve yummy snacks called
‘chat’.
Nearby other vendors were providing food to tired, weary daily wage
workers. I sat there watching them sitting on the pavement and eating…..
Suddenly a tiny hand knocked on the
passenger side window. I turned and saw a little urchin face, I lowered the
window and asked him what he wanted?
“I’m hungry”…. uttering these words he
moved ahead, not sure of my reaction. I honked the horn but he kept moving. I
got out and walked quickly up to him and stopped him.
I saw a ten-year-old,
frail little boy…. Tired, sleepy and a little irritated. “What are you doing
here at this time? You should be at home.” I inquired.
He just looked at me and then took my hand and walked to a shop
across the road and said, “I work here. The owner promised to pay my wages
today but he did not open the shop. I waited for him for the whole day.” He was
visibly irritated and felt betrayed.
“Right
now go home and come tomorrow.” I reacted
“How can I go home? I promised my
grandmother to buy the ration. She must be waiting for me and it is now 9 o’clock.”
On enquiring, he told me there was no one in his family except his grandma, who
was too old to work.
“So what do you want from me?” I asked.
“Do you see that vendor in the corner?
He serves food.”
I
gave him money but he refused…… “Wait
here, I’ll go and ask him how much it will cost, then you can pay.”
What simplicity and honesty…… I was
floored by it.
He went up to that vendor. The man
looked suspiciously first at him and then at me……. I waved to him assuring that
I would pay and moved towards my car.
“Wait, where are you going, let me
finish eating otherwise you will think I have taken the money from this man and
gone away.”
I was speechless and just sat in my car
while he finished eating. After washing his hands he walked up to me and said,
“If you doubt me then tomorrow or any other day you can come and see that I
work here.”…….
Hesitatingly he asked, “I can clean your car while you eat chat
(snacks).” I firmly refused the generous offer, I don’t like kids working.
“O.K. go home now.”
“No I cannot.”
“Why?” I was taken aback and was a
little suspicious.
“How can I go home ……. You paid for my dinner; maybe
somebody else would give me some money, so that I can take something for my
grandmother.”
“God, why do you test such little kids,
what misery!!….” I wailed silently. Two innocent eyes, I wanted to wrap my arms around him and give him a tight bear hug.
“How much would that cost?” He looked at
me silently, trying to weigh me …..” I think Rs.10/ would do”
I gave him much more than that and
warned him to not to waste it. “You still think I would do that? With this
amount I can buy one weeks ration.”
He just touched my hands before running
towards a grocery shop which was about to close……
I just sat there looking at him from a
distance, saluting his spirit. His twinkling eyes certainly made a big
difference in my life.
He had grown beyond years in a short span of life,
burdening the responsibility at such a tender age. Such people are hard to
find.
Most of the time we think it as a trivial incident... but No, these are testing times when the invisible power around us is testing us... our intentions. So always be vigilant, nothing happens without a reason...
Bring a smile in somebody's life, it costs nothing but just a helping hand... mere support to help someone to move ahead in life. Be that support!!
