We parked the car in Gopinath Bazaar and went to buy my
favorite brownie. It was just one of the easy and lazy late evenings in
otherwise demanding life of Delhi. The weather was perfectly romantic in the
late October, or atleast my husband and I thought so!
After taking the brownie and ofcourse added sandwiches,
patties with it, we hastily went into the car as we were excited for a drive
towards the India Gate. Something caught my attention.
An aged lady sat on the footpath, the area mostly deserted
at that hour, barring a few shops. Her frail body was covered with a worn out
blanket. A stick was placed near her. My husband asked me to give a packet to
her containing the food we just bought.I took out some money as well. I fumbled
yet grabbed the packet as the lady’s calmness bothered me. I expected the usual
begging for food or money, or both. She stared at me from a distance, but her
facial expression didnot change much. Again I expected her to be elated while I
stepped near her, as it obviously meant that she would gain something.
I faltered back as a dog barked. I failed to notice its
presence as he was happily sharing the blanket with the old woman. I was
determined to be the so called ‘giver’ and therefore I mustered courage and
went near her though the dog grumbled.
“Mere paass kuch khana hain, aap rakhlijiye aur paisse bhi
le lijiye,” I extended my hand to reach her. There was no reaction from her,
just about a slight hint to the four legged pet of hers to be quiet. I reiterated
my offer or rather request, should I say?
Her lips parched and I felt happy that ‘for today I have
done a good deed’ as I knew she would take the packet as well as the money and would
shower a set of blessings. Its almost an everyday affair in Delhi streets.
"Mujhe koi cheese ki jaroorat nehi hai, main thik hu,” she
said. Her voice had the right mix of tenderness and strength which stopped me
from repeating my request. She took out a broom and cleaned a small area near
her and made arrangements to sleep. I was surprised as well as bewildered by
her denial. The dog grumbled again and I thought I must leave and let this
happy family to take rest.
With sluggish steps I moved on. She had a dog to give her
company, a broom with which she can clean up her place and make it liveable for
the night, a blanket to protect her somehow from the cold, and an open sky that
she called home.
In every moment in life the role of the giver and receiver
changes. I went to give her mere food and money, but I received profound
wisdom. To be contended in life either we need very little, or the list goes up
everyday.
