As I take a casual walk with my friends in the evening, I discover that the road leading to my house was being dug (for some reason, I don't know). I managed to hop and skip and jump and hit the main road with two of my friends. There I see a young guy jumping and splashing water at a construction site. He was as carefree as can be and must have had some happy song playing inside his little mind (I presume, thats how my adult brain thinks!). Watching him was delightful. I was carrying my camera with me (again, I never carry a camera for evening walks!!) I clicked him, at the first attempt I was unsuccessful but at the second attempt he posed for me (and stopped splashing water for ones!!!). He won my heart at the first look, who said love at first site was for fairy tales!
I started walking again with my friends, talking and laughing and yes, cribbing about everything wrong that has happened and could happen!
After five minutes we settled down for a cup of tea, but the little guy still ruled my mind and he had acquired a position in my heart. I came back home and started thinking about him.
My own questions were my answers. There are thousands of street children I see everyday, born to beggars and are often results of rapes. I don't know what this little guy was a result of (I don't want to think). If you put a hundred of these children in a pit, I am sure it would seem like a pit full of HIV/AIDS infested pool.
These children are just born, and yes, without fate! They are not aware who their biological parents are, are exploited at a very young age, girls often end up in brothels even before they know to differentiate between men and women.
What happens to these people when they grow up? Yes, they are future, potential drug peddlers, thieves, pick pockets and may be, rapists. So this is a viscous cycle that goes on. The innocence of my little guy, will be killed in a year or two and may be after few years he will be hooting at me or targeting my wallet!
I will not comment on what should be done and what has to be done for the destitute and the beggars on the roads. I, sitting at home, with a cup of coffee, a laptop, one of the best mobile phones available in the market, have no right to criticize the government but it is interesting to get into the mind of my little guy.
It is really difficult to guess what he must be thinking and why did he decide to pose after some failed attempts. Must have thought, 'Oh man, crazy woman is after my life, let me just pose and finish off' or ' city girls like me yeah!' or, possibly, 'yeah, one of those people who come, from India and abroad, photograph me and go away, I am a picture in their news papers and magazines, or may be art galleries and exhibitions.' Hmm... that is what even I am doing!
I wish I had a few qualities of Anton Chekhov, who stepped into the mind of 9 year old Vanka, and analysed what his heavy heart must have craved for at that tender age. Well, I cannot be Chekhov, even wishing so is extremely ambitious.
I never saw the little guy again. I don't know who he was, what he meant, but he did leave imprints of his little footsteps on my mind and heart. He represents those thousands of children who can be molded, but are a waste.
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| He is the little guy |
I started walking again with my friends, talking and laughing and yes, cribbing about everything wrong that has happened and could happen!
After five minutes we settled down for a cup of tea, but the little guy still ruled my mind and he had acquired a position in my heart. I came back home and started thinking about him.
My own questions were my answers. There are thousands of street children I see everyday, born to beggars and are often results of rapes. I don't know what this little guy was a result of (I don't want to think). If you put a hundred of these children in a pit, I am sure it would seem like a pit full of HIV/AIDS infested pool.
These children are just born, and yes, without fate! They are not aware who their biological parents are, are exploited at a very young age, girls often end up in brothels even before they know to differentiate between men and women.
What happens to these people when they grow up? Yes, they are future, potential drug peddlers, thieves, pick pockets and may be, rapists. So this is a viscous cycle that goes on. The innocence of my little guy, will be killed in a year or two and may be after few years he will be hooting at me or targeting my wallet!
I will not comment on what should be done and what has to be done for the destitute and the beggars on the roads. I, sitting at home, with a cup of coffee, a laptop, one of the best mobile phones available in the market, have no right to criticize the government but it is interesting to get into the mind of my little guy.
It is really difficult to guess what he must be thinking and why did he decide to pose after some failed attempts. Must have thought, 'Oh man, crazy woman is after my life, let me just pose and finish off' or ' city girls like me yeah!' or, possibly, 'yeah, one of those people who come, from India and abroad, photograph me and go away, I am a picture in their news papers and magazines, or may be art galleries and exhibitions.' Hmm... that is what even I am doing!
I never saw the little guy again. I don't know who he was, what he meant, but he did leave imprints of his little footsteps on my mind and heart. He represents those thousands of children who can be molded, but are a waste.
