There are a few people who keep me busy in the morning. 1) A lady who sweeps the entire stretch of road in front of my house. 2) An hoary, wrinkled old man who begs for alms. He calls out, "Baba, rote de baba!!!"
The rough sound of the lady's broom grating the ground and the hoarse voice of the old man are a definite accompaniment to the rest of the sounds that make up my morning. Both these people do not come everyday, but alternately. The old woman cleans up all the roads in our area for a pittance and all that the man manages to take home is maybe a few rupees and food for the day.
As usual, the old man cried for alms and food. After having picked up food from my neighbor and my house, he walked towards the next residence. After handing him the food, I stood by at the door, watching him.
The rough sound of the lady's broom grating the ground and the hoarse voice of the old man are a definite accompaniment to the rest of the sounds that make up my morning. Both these people do not come everyday, but alternately. The old woman cleans up all the roads in our area for a pittance and all that the man manages to take home is maybe a few rupees and food for the day.
As usual, the old man cried for alms and food. After having picked up food from my neighbor and my house, he walked towards the next residence. After handing him the food, I stood by at the door, watching him.
The sweeper was resting her back on a bench that was placed at the intersection of the four roads. She was chewing betel nut and spitting over her shoulder. We never minded this act of hers, as she would eventually clean it up. She said something to the old man. I thought she wanted him to avoid walking over the heap of leaves that she had swept together. Instead, the old man walked over to her, limping, with his slightly bent back. The woman was fumbling with her small bag in which she carried betel nut leaves and chuna. Finally, after having found what she wanted, she lifted her head and gazed at the old man, stretching out her palm towards him. She gave him something. I was swelling with curiosity. After all, what could an old woman, not much different in social and financial position compared could give to anyone? Before he could drop it into his food bag, I caught a glimpse ot it. It was a 2 rupee coin.
At that moment, a few sentences reverberated, very close to me...
At that moment, a few sentences reverberated, very close to me...
"You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty. Where there is love there is life."
Mahatma Gandhi
No matter what happens, we humans will bail out each other!
I say...
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