It was finally Friday. After 40 hours of client billable hours inside the “BEST’” LPO in the world, I was desperate to get out of office .As I swiped out with an extra flourish, the cool Bangalore breeze welcomed me outside. Bangalore in early August is a lot like my home town Silchar in late January…Refreshing weather . I dashed to my cab which was waiting and off we zoomed. Our cab on a Friday night gets quite animated. Talks of parties and night-clubs dominate discussion. But I was lost in my world…dreaming about life, law and love…In Nagawara signal our cab screeched to a halt…Suddenly, my eyes were attracted to a little gal selling toys and flags…Independence day was very close and she was hoping that the pseudo-patriotism that it generates would help her earn a few extra bucks…If only she knew what independence really meant…That little gal had sparkling eyes and was trying her best to attract attention of the techies driving their flashy cars..She was singing Kannada songs to impress…Some waved her off. …Some shooed her away… ..Some even didnot look at her as they were busy talking to their gal-friends in their black-berries…Their mobile screens are wider than their hearts…A family driving a Fortuner was her best bet… Her fortune depended on the occupants of the Fortuner…The little gal in rags could give the Management gurus a lesson or two…She ignored the parents and tried to catch the eye-balls of her target audience…The two kids in the car seemed excited on seeing the toys… .I was praying that they buy it…But their fat father refused…As i saw the glint of hope disappearing in the eyes of the little gal, I felt i should buy a toy…If only to make her day…I usually dont carry cash to office…Actually i dont need to…Sodexos take care of my lunch and transport is free…As my hands opened my wallet with hope rather than conviction, i saw a hundred rupee note…I called the gal and said “Toy Doh”…Her eyes shone with hope…And then the signal turned green…In a split second our car had started…God cheated that little brave gal one more time…I craned my neck out of my car but she was gone…She had vanished admits the cars…I had tears in my eyes…May be she had too. The next Monday, when my cab stopped on the same signal, i started searching for her .But she was not to be seen. An old man with a hump was selling magazines. Perhaps my little gal has moved on to another signal…trying new techniques to sell her toys…singing new songs to impress…
Comments
When you want to help, do it all the way. 100 is not enough. Take her out of that life. That is the help she needs. Other wise she would remain a sad part of the gangs that control traffic-signal mobile human-shops.
Orphans, abducted ones, etc. do end up like this in cities.
Please understand that they are not alone. They are a gang. Not the girls fault. Actually her misfortune.
But, if people keep giving away money, they are never going to stop.
Everyone would understand if you do not the time or resources to go all the way. But, there is not point in aggravating the problem.
Next time, if this happens again, get down from the car, and give your shoulder to the girl and cry with her.
Help can be of different kinds. Money does not solve the problem always. At least not in this case. Especially if it is only Rs. 100. That is not help. That is pity. Moreover, not even Rs. 2 would have ended up with her. It would have gone to the mafia controlling her.
And if you still cannot control yourself, then please give her food instead, which she can eat herself without having to give it to the gang-leader.
the article I have written is quite similar.... please do check it out.