This is about the morning incident. I had to go to a place to meet one of my colleagues from a company where we worked together for some time. I thought I can't do that without breakfast. I mean, I had only slept for 2 and a half hours. I needed some energy.
So, I was hoping that the Juicemaker would be open before 9 am. I went there, had breakfast. The regular Bombay Sandwich and Watermelon Juice. Juicemaker is a very small outlet that serves juices and snacks and it is very close to the place where I am currently staying. There is a footpath right outside it which is usually busy with people sitting on chairs. The other small outlets from nearby serve snacks that people eat sitting on these little chairs. I visit this place regularly.
After having breakfast, I was waiting outside for the auto to arrive. An old man quietly came near, he was still not very close. He had a walking cane stick in his hand for the support. I was busy looking at the app curious about when my auto would arrive. Initially, my attention didn't go towards him as there were other people around and he didn't appear very different, but finally, I actually looked at him. He was old, probably in his 50s, weak and walking very slowly.
He just looked towards me and raised his hand a little for a short while. I mumbled, "Sorry!". He didn't say a single word, didn't change his expression, and stopped looking at me and stayed at his place. He started looking elsewhere, probably in search of someone who could give him something.
I have ignored people before and regretted, I always wanted to help or trust them. This time I replayed it in my mind. I saw myself having breakfast, spending probably more than what that sandwich and juice was worth. Booking an auto, waiting for it outside. The old man coming close, and this time I tried to really see what he might be seeing. The priceless expressions that were on his face, the curiosity, the sense of worry. The quietness of his really made my heart sad. His clothes were not torn, they looked very old though. I tried looking at how much money I had in my wallet. I found Rs. 70 in there. I took out Rs. 20 note from it and approached him and offered it to him. He slowly raised his hand to collect it and gave me a nod. I felt happy. But till my auto arrived, I kept on looking at what he did next.
He continued walking slowly. There is a Sagar next to Juicemaker, he looked at that place. I don't know what he thought about. Maybe he was thinking of getting enough money to have breakfast at that place. Maybe he wanted more money for something and he was expecting people coming out of Sagar to offer him more. I saw a girl kid offering him money, he nodded at her too. All this while, he never spoke a word. Maybe he just wanted money to do something wrong, but that is a thought that never occurred in my mind as it appears now. And I am so happy that this thought never came then.
He might have really needed that money or maybe he might have not. But this week, I certainly spent the money on things that I didn't even need. Overpriced chocolate shake, simple food, autos, entertainment. I wish I had somehow talked to him and asked about his story. But I didn't.
So, I was hoping that the Juicemaker would be open before 9 am. I went there, had breakfast. The regular Bombay Sandwich and Watermelon Juice. Juicemaker is a very small outlet that serves juices and snacks and it is very close to the place where I am currently staying. There is a footpath right outside it which is usually busy with people sitting on chairs. The other small outlets from nearby serve snacks that people eat sitting on these little chairs. I visit this place regularly.
After having breakfast, I was waiting outside for the auto to arrive. An old man quietly came near, he was still not very close. He had a walking cane stick in his hand for the support. I was busy looking at the app curious about when my auto would arrive. Initially, my attention didn't go towards him as there were other people around and he didn't appear very different, but finally, I actually looked at him. He was old, probably in his 50s, weak and walking very slowly.
He just looked towards me and raised his hand a little for a short while. I mumbled, "Sorry!". He didn't say a single word, didn't change his expression, and stopped looking at me and stayed at his place. He started looking elsewhere, probably in search of someone who could give him something.
I have ignored people before and regretted, I always wanted to help or trust them. This time I replayed it in my mind. I saw myself having breakfast, spending probably more than what that sandwich and juice was worth. Booking an auto, waiting for it outside. The old man coming close, and this time I tried to really see what he might be seeing. The priceless expressions that were on his face, the curiosity, the sense of worry. The quietness of his really made my heart sad. His clothes were not torn, they looked very old though. I tried looking at how much money I had in my wallet. I found Rs. 70 in there. I took out Rs. 20 note from it and approached him and offered it to him. He slowly raised his hand to collect it and gave me a nod. I felt happy. But till my auto arrived, I kept on looking at what he did next.
He continued walking slowly. There is a Sagar next to Juicemaker, he looked at that place. I don't know what he thought about. Maybe he was thinking of getting enough money to have breakfast at that place. Maybe he wanted more money for something and he was expecting people coming out of Sagar to offer him more. I saw a girl kid offering him money, he nodded at her too. All this while, he never spoke a word. Maybe he just wanted money to do something wrong, but that is a thought that never occurred in my mind as it appears now. And I am so happy that this thought never came then.
He might have really needed that money or maybe he might have not. But this week, I certainly spent the money on things that I didn't even need. Overpriced chocolate shake, simple food, autos, entertainment. I wish I had somehow talked to him and asked about his story. But I didn't.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete