It was a sunny Monday afternoon and the sun God must have gone crazy that day. As I drove to a lunch appointment, I could
feel the heat passing through the windscreen and literally blistering my arms
and face. Even with the car air conditioning at full I couldn't escape the
wrath of God that day. Amidst the helplessly accepted honking, I
faintly remember hearing the radio presenter saying that
the temperature is clocking 44 degree Celsius or 111 degree
Fahrenheit ( for our friend from West). If you have been lucky and never faced such temperature, facing
winds at this temperature can give fatal heat strokes if not taken
precautions. Coming out of Nat geo channel, at this point I was sitting comfortably inside the car and could only imagine how it would it be to stand outside and face the brunt of nature.
From a distance, I saw the Sony World junction approaching ahead and prepared
myself to forcefully spend at least 5-10 mins at the infamous red light. Though it's recognized but cursing makes me keep peace with my self. After a few mins
I reached the stop sign me and my buds call the "point of no return".
In this case our patience!!!
While sitting there and losing my patience to the black hole, I
started observing a regular group of less fortunates( I hate to use the B word)
running to the people sitting in scores of cars, bikes and public transports
asking for money. I usually keep some spare change
in the cigarette ash tray (Now that doesn't mean I
don't smoke but definitely not in the car) for buying small stuff from people
selling off the street. If you've noticed, since the last few years many people now sell on the streets. These could be from small
gift items, daily utility items to books and magazines. If you look at most, you can easily figure out that these are the now reformed "less
fortunate" who must have been approached by some small unit of a much larger
nexus (purposely chose the word) of NGOs. The arrangement would be have been simple, you sell these items(that some smaller vendors probably can't sell off TSN , famous
Tele Shopping Network) for us and we'll give you a daily wage. They in turn will get big
profits directly from the companies. That could explain why we don't see everyone
latching on to this idea and earning a decent living. I'm no judge!!!
Among the group I saw a young boy, probably about 15 yrs, running
from 'prospect' to 'prospect' asking for money. Undeterred by the frowns and
the curses he was able enough to convince the few faint hearted for some coins.
At the same time I noticed an old man with no legs desperately trying to drag
him across the street and reach up to the windows of the cars and to the
pillion riders. Not to guess that he wasn't really successful to do his sales
no.'s for the stop light. Seeing his condition, reached out to a currency note hanging out of my
"money box" and I thought I should give it to him. As much as I am
against giving money to these people, I couldn't ignore the plight of this man.
To help him, I honked and waved my hand at him. He turned towards the direction
where he thought the sound came from and was delighted to see my pitiful
face and more necessarily the ten rupee note in my hand. He forced
himself to react as quickly as he could to reach my car. Suddenly the traffic
light turned to green and the sweet sound of Oliver Lucas's simple invention of
a steel diaphragm and electro magnate done in 1910, surrounded the entire
areas. The kids of the traffic devil started moving. At this point I was
concerned about getting the ten rupee note to this man. I saw the cripples face
turning red with confusion and fear. He looked up at me for one last time and
dragged himself back to the pavement on the other side of the road. I felt
saddened. However, even before I could take the moment and let the irony of
life seek in to my heavy heart, I saw the other young
boy suddenly appearing next to my car running and reaching out
for the ten rupee note. Which was still in my out stretched hand. By
that time I didn't mind him taking it from me. I drove off with a different
outlook to the life of the les malheureux.
I reached my destination and the memories of this incident became
lucid during the day. I recall it was about 8pm when I was coming back
home. We had plans to meet a good friend and his wife over dinner. I wanted to
pick some flowers from the florist next to the coffee shop near the
"PONR" crossroad. As I approached the stop sign I looked out of the
window to the other side of the road. My attention was diverted by a group of
young and middle aged men standing beside the liquor shop. They were
shabbily dressed and were swearing and shouting. I was about to ignore the
irritants when I saw the young boy from the morning. He was shouting and
drinking as if he was basking a hard day’s work. As I left him with them,
there was only one thought in my mind - What a waste of a perfectly good human
life...
Somewhere feeling cheated and fooled, I passed the crossroad and
went ahead. As I passed the crossroad, I saw the cripple waiting at the same side of
the road expecting the traffic signal to turn red soon. It was clear that it was another day he couldn't get enough to retire for decent meal. A similar yet far contrast in life.
The thought still lingers somewhere in my head - Those who don't
realize what they have got.....
Beautifully articulated story, something that we could instantly relate to and empathize with...and I'm not exaggerating when I say...it left a choked throat in here!
ReplyDeleteGo Sameer go!
-Shawinder and Priya
Thanks guys. your last words meant a lot!!!
ReplyDeleteVery well written Sam. That's the truth of life. People don't realize what they have and take things for granted. I am sure all readers for this blog can very well relate to it and must have experienced it at some point of their life or other.
ReplyDeleteIt's a choice a man makes and it defines his life.
And people with no choice are the most unfortunate ones.
This gives all of us a reason to feel blessed and make the most of what we have in our kitty.
- Bosky
Thanks Bosky. Your views make it even better..keep reading!!
ReplyDeleteSameer: The blog is rather cool. I went over words that I have not heard in quite a while. Amazing thoughts, amazing run of words!! Dig your blogs dude!!
ReplyDeleteHurrsh
Good Job!!
ReplyDeleteWowwww Sammy, that was really deep!!! Must say, at one point I was kind of torn between fact and fiction. This piece clearly portrays your eye for details and keen understanding of human nature. Very Impressive piece....!!! Keep it up bud.
ReplyDeleteHurrsh/Ben, thanks for the encouragement!!! Look out for more...:-)
ReplyDeleteaint it cruel ? I guess thats how the cookie crumbles...
ReplyDeleteGyanban, could be right but then again it's the belief that the crumbles can always form a cereal makes the difference...
ReplyDeleteSimple n touching story so beautifully expressed. A lesson to be learned from it..... count ur blessings. Keep writing sam waiting for more.
ReplyDeleteHi Sammy boy finally u reached the final frontier
ReplyDeleteIt's the time u have looked into and guess with some self introspection u have unleashed
The creative juices and well its a heady cocktail once u plunge and for sure what lies beneath so open up more