Are You Lucky Enough?

A few months back, while I was spending my vacation at home, I was on my way to my music class and there was this little boy walking few inches ahead of me…5 or maybe 6 years in age…might I guess. He looked so cute in his school uniform that I couldn’t refrain myself from talking to him…and in no time I was already asking for his name and whereabouts. Fortunately, we were heading in the same direction. We talked so merrily and it didn’t feel like it was our first conversation. Then I noticed the kid had no bag, no shoes. He was wearing slippers and carrying polythene to school. I couldn’t help but ask him about it. Without hesitating even for a second, he was like, “My parents have no money to buy those for me”. And all of a sudden I had nothing to say. “I should get home fast. I've got to look after my kid-brother”, he added and paced his steps. I was walking in a daze now.

Then this other day, I was out shopping with my mother, I saw this little boy selling socks. 

I suggested my mother we buy from him as I was in desperate need of some new pairs of socks and also the kid could have some earning. She was affirmative and we bought from him and as always I couldn’t resist myself from asking how he ended up there at such a young age. This little man too, without more ado, replied that after his parents died, he was aimlessly wandering around the streets when this employer guy approached him and asked if he wanted to work. Thus he has been eking his own living since then.

“Does your employer ever beat you?”

“No, I don’t make any mistakes. So I don’t get punishments too.”

That was a relief.

My mother pulled me out of the convo. She said that if I talked further, I’d insist to take him home with us. Lol. I had no such intension though.

Encountering such situations always make me wonder how can there be such a stark contrast in our lives. While most of us are still worrying about the quality of mayonnaise in the burger or probably about bad wi-fi signals, these kids are just struggling for survival. 

All I had to worry when I was their age was about what I would have for lunch or if I’d miss any of my favorite cartoon shows. All those nice and much awaited cartoon movies used to be aired at 12 noon on Sunday…I used to be at school at that time. I still have this complaint to my childhood. I remember once when I trashed away a newly bought bag just because it didn’t match the kind I preferred…or furiously walking alone to my grandma’s just because they were late in bringing me a set of 64 crayons as I asked them to. Still have no idea where so many colors can be used at once.lol. And if I threatened by skipping just one meal or making an angry face for an hour, my wish would have been fulfilled before the end of the day. But these kids? Who would they throw their tantrums to? Well I was hell of one haughty kid and I was so wrong. All I can do now is feel sorry for not acknowledging their efforts to make me happier despite of so many unfavorable conditions and a promise to repay them with equal love and affection. Let's stop being embittered. I think it's about time we start counting our blessings.

Well this post is an outcome of being sick and missing a day in the ENT ward posting. Getting sick when you're away from home is the most hardest time of your life, I bet. Anyway, being optimist, I’d like to take this opportunity to convey warm wishes for the beginning of a new year. I’ve planned to save myself this year from the Herculean task of making New Year’s resolutions and tucking them at the side before the end of the first month. We’ll see what it comes. \m/ Lol