I Know you!!

Train was running behind schedule. It was already 11.30 at night when I reached New Delhi railway station. As I was coming out of the station, couple of rikshaw walas came rushing. “Kahan Jayoge Bhai Saab”, one said. He looked like a young old man, aged around 25 with unshaved stubble and drooping posture. I asked for the rate. “Jo Banta hai de dena Saab”, he said. There was no way I could have said no.

It was about 45 minutes journey till my place. While on the way, he started murmuring “This city is really bad, Saab. I am working here like a dog but still can’t support my family financially”. There was lot of hopelessness in his voice.

“Really”, i asked, “But in city like Delhi you can easily make a decent living out of driving rikshaw as there are lot of passengers here, including foreigners”. “You are right Saab, but I have to pay Rs 200 per day as a rent to the owner of the auto. After paying that there’s hardly anything left. I don’t have anybody known here. Life is so miserable”. After listening to him, I thought for a moment.

“Which place do you belong to”, I inquired. “Kanpur Saab”. “Hey really, I have stayed there for a long time, which place in Kanpur”; we had something in common now. “Just on the side of the old city road, where did u stay Saab”, suddenly there was a new found enthusiasm in his voice. “I also stayed near that area. People of Kanpur are very nice and helpful”, I replied. For the first time I could see a smile on his face.” Ok, if I advise you something, will you listen to it”, I thought it was the right time. “Sure Saab, tell me”, he was looking interested.

“You should buy an auto, even if it has to be a second hand. It will save you a lot more money in the long run”. He started to think, “You are right, but I don’t have that much of money”. “Don’t worry about that. I have a friend working in an NGO, they provide loans to the needy people like you, I will ask him, but you need to promise that you will work harder” I said.

“Sure Saab, I will do that” he was really excited by now. After reaching my place, he refused to take money from me, for which I had to force him. I gave him my contact number and asked to call me after 3 days. He was looking alive now, “Thank you very much Saab”, he said as he was leaving, “Aakhir Kanpur wala hi Kanpur wale ke kaam aata hai”.

I just stood there for a while with a smile on my face. The first thing I did after entering home was to check through internet, where does the Old City road in Kanpur exist!!

Shameful Story!

(The story is set in 18^th century, when animals were still used for traveling over shorter distances.)

The father, ‘Pa’ and son, ‘Baba’ went to nearby town to buy an animal for commuting. As they were walking back to their town with ‘donkey’, the people passing along started making fun. “Look at these idiots, they have a donkey to ride, but still they are walking”. After hearing the remarks, Pa asked Baba to sit on the donkey. Baba obeyed like a good boy and they started again.

After passing a couple of miles they met with an elderly lady. “It’s really shameful to see the old father walking while his young son is enjoying the ride”, she said. Baba really felt bad and asked his Pa to ride the donkey. Pa reluctantly agreed and they resumed their journey.

They had just crossed the half way, when two gentlemen passing by made remarks, “Well look at the proud father, he has no sympathy for his young son. He just wants his own comfort, it’s disgraceful!” Pa really felt bad and stopped for a while. Then he asked his son to join him on the donkey. Now both Pa and Baba were riding on the donkey and they stared their journey again.

After going for half an hour, the donkey started feeling the extra weight of two people on his back and started puffing. Eventually he (donkey) lost his conscious and collapsed on the ground. Pa and Baba really got worried and called people around for help. After knowing what happened, people started cursing them saying that they had no sympathy for the poor animal and they almost killed it. What a Shame!!