Saturday, July 10, 2010

Wish

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 12; the twelfth edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.


"Didi, 10rs dedo na? Didi please"

I try to ignore. And trust me it is difficult to not look at those eyes. Say whatever you want to about beggars and how they can choose to do better or how giving alms only makes things worse but a child has no choice.

Thankfully, the signal turns green and I drive on. I reach the house of my nephew. Full of life and 'masti'. There isn't a moment that he can stay still. A 4yr old non stop chatterbox. It is my day to baby sit him which generally includes me taking him to the mall.

"Aashika (that's what he calls me), I want chocolate," he says with innocence dripping from his eyes.

"After you finish your dosa," I say following the instructions of my cousin.

"Promise?"

"Yep."

Worked like magic. Dosa was gone in 10 mins flat while we read (for the hundred time) Noddy's adventures. After we were done, immediately those big brown eyes asked, "Chocolate time, Aashika?"

"Ok but only a small piece. Ok?"

"Yay!"

While I saw him eat the chocolate, the child at the traffic signal came to my mind. Both were children, both had similar needs, different wants yes.

One wished for chocolates and knew how to throw a tantrum for it. Another just wished for survival.

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20 comments:

Tuppence said...

Truth of life.
nicely brought out. Was a good and a simple read on the topic.

adarshs said...

good things come in small packages...this blog is a gud example :)

Anuradha Shankar said...

very beautifully written! an issue which comes to mind every single day!

Lady Whispers said...

Sad but true! A reality of life!
Nicely written!

Scribbling Girl - Wish

Jaspreet said...

Simple but with a deep meaning!!
One can dare to 'wish' only if he has the basic needs fulfilled.

Vee said...

you struck the right chord with your short post.

Vee - Wish @ Psyche's Visage.

Someone is Special said...

Beautiful & smart.. Great..

I wish you a good luck for BATOM - 12

Saravana Kumar - Wish

Yours Frendly,
Saravana Kumar M

Deepak said...

Yes, they need to survive more than to live. An eye opener.


Replica

leo said...

a short account so full of meaning..nicely done..

Vibhuti Bhandarkar said...

Such a 'chicken soup for the soul kind of story'.I will remember your story every time I see that lil boy at the traffic signal now. Neat!

Vipul Grover said...

I just commented on Azad's post, how I bad i feel on cuming out of a lavish restaurant and seeing kids asking for alms.. sumhow tht momentary feeling fades away and i find myslf indulging again..
its a sad truth :|

Gauri said...

Small story yet so much meaning from it...

Good Wishes for BAT12!

Gkam - Wish

Anonymous said...

Indeed, our conscince pricks us when we're confronted with such situations. And, as in ur incident, most of us tend to ignore.
But there's onething which I'd like to pause and think(i'm nt talking abt the majority of those who can work yet give up to laziness and go for alms and begging, im concerned about those who truly require help);
having our conscince pricked cannot be the only reason for us to stop helping. I've never done anything gr8 regarding this issue and honestly, am not preaching anyone about this. But then even Im faced with a dilemma hw do i deal wid this situation! all of us cant stop our vehicles and take 'em with us and 'help'. Something more sensible and practical can be thought of.

mayur said...

they say..its so difficult to be simple....and its amazing how you could convey such a profound idea through such a simple story.

You will be a good teacher...if not a school teacher...a good mentor!

All the best for BAT!

Brijender Singh said...

One man's ceiling is another man's floor-and you could not have conveyed it better.
The harsh truth of life that is so evident that nobody notices it anymore. Loved reading it !

RV said...

@Tuppence, Adarshs, Anu, Scribbling Girl,

Thanks so much :D

@Jaspreet,

Maslow's hierarchy of needs at its best!

RV said...

@Vee, Saravana, Deepak, Leo,

Thanks a Million :D

@Vibhuti,

Someday I hope....

RV said...

@Vipul,

It is your hard earned money, don't be guilty about spending. But it does put things in perspective na?

@Gkam,

Thanks :D

RV said...

@Vamzee,

I am so glad that you raised this point. I really can't do much about a lot of things but there are some things that I CAN change and hence, I am a part of an organisation called MAD.. Will blog about it sometime and you'll know more :D

@Mayur,

One of my lives dreams Thanks!

@Brijender,

True. Harsh reality of life!

Mahesh Aadhya Kalal said...

realistic reflection of unequal treatment of wishes which projects the widening gap between haves and have nots...
keep up the good work.