WATER BOTTLE

Pani lo… pani  lo… pani lo…. A 6-7 year old boy was running along the platform with a bottle filled with water... bare footed , pulling his pant above his thigh with one hand trying to hold it there, running window to window to sell that bottle along the sleeper compartment of 8610 Ranchi Express. It was some station between Allahabad and Mughal Sarai in UP. I was desperately looking for water as there is no pantry in that train and the last bottle I had purchased from Jabalpur station had finished almost four hours before.  As he passed along my window I stopped him and asked how much the water costs? Panch rupya (Five rupees) he replied. I realized that it was used bottle discarded by passengers and was filled with normal platform water. I asked Mahnga wala nahi hai (don’t you have the original one??)  He didn’t get me and moved ahead. Just after few seconds he again appeared and said tim rupya me leb$ (will u pay three rupees)? I tried to smile while swiefly denying his request but it was a tight smile. Before I got out from my thoughts about him, 2 -3 girls appeared with buckets filled with water in their hands. Girls also of same age group, 6-7 years old, bare footed, frock with no hooks in it exposing all their back, dirty and dry hair with some colored ribbons, slender legs with dry skins and a placid smile on their face. They were moving along the window to feel the empty bottles of the passengers in general compartment at the rate of Rs 2 a bottle. I just was watching all that but a silent combat was going on in my mind. Who is responsible for their condition? Why we can not do anything for them?

I had my empty bottle with me. When the same boy again crossed along my window, I called him and passed my empty bottle thinking that he will fill it and sell some one to get some money. But he again got me wrong and ran to fill the bottle for me without taking time to listen my purpose. He returned back within two minutes with filled bottle. He was very happy to help me rather than in the hope of earning some bucks. An innocent smile was dancing on his face when he tried to clean his already cleaned nose by swiping it from hanging sleeve of his shirt. He has a small round face with little nose. Two of his front teeth were absent adding more cuteness and smile to his face. Upper two buttons of his shirt were undone and it was almost hanging to his shoulder upto just above his knees. I noticed that the shirt was quite longer than he actually needed.

My hand went into my back pocket to search for my wallet. I pulled a 2 rupees coin and gave him swiftly denying taking the bottle again. He ran back to the platform almost dancing happily to show his earning to his another friend. I saw him telling something to his friend by pointing his finger towards me. The joy at that innocent face was so illuminated and obvious that it seemed that he got a very precious thing. At that day I realized the value of that two rupees coin. Is it causing such a sweet happiness for someone!!! Possibly Yes. Rich people spent a hell lot of money just for their dogs. But the condition of human just adjacent to us is so bad, we never realize. I realized that there is no end of making and spending money but our small contribution to the needy people can bring smile at their faces.

At platform a vender was dip frying Aalu chap surrounded by customers when the train again started moving. I was looking in blank my eyes opened but my mind lost somewhere in thoughts…..

यादें 

26^th Oct 2008