Browsing through my diary, I came across a few thoughts of mine recorded over a period of time…. One such thought is posted below:
02nd May 2003
My cousin’s family were visiting us and we all went for an outing. We were a party of 4 adults and 3 children. After visiting the snake park, children’s park, Gandhi Mandapam, etc.. we went to the Besant Nagar Beach – “Elliots Beach”. My cousins wife and I were left on the shore to take care of our belongings and the men and children moved towards the water. The shore was a hub of activity with people laughing and whiling away their time, people sad or with serious faces looking at the waves, children , young adults playing and frolicking happily in general. My cousin and I sat down and were watching the activity around us . A newly married couple, oblivious to the surrounding, were happily feeding each other. We met the regular ‘sundal’ boys/girls, an old lady promised to read my palm accurately and predict my future and other small business men. Our main job was fending off these ‘business people’.
Then came a little girl, she must have been around eight years or so , almost my daughter’s age. She wore a loose fitting frock. She had a small ‘Tambalam’[tray] in her hand with jasmine flowers. She kept asking me to buy the flowers . I tried to fend her off, like I did the others , but I failed as she was very insistent. She asked me to do ‘boni’(first purchase) for at least for Rs. 3. She was smart looking inspite of being dirty and a scrub would have made her look good. Her face reminded me of P.S. Keerthana of ‘Kannathil Muthamital’ movie. Finally, I told her I would take Rs. 10 worth of flowers but she must measure the flowers correctly. She said , in case I am not satisfied with the way she measures , I may do it myself. The measure is ‘Muzham’ ie from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow. She then gave me 4 ‘muzhams’ of flower and took the Rs.10/- after that she sat down next to me, carefully placed the money in the tiny purse she had and started measuring the remaining flowers. She did it twice.
At this juncture , let me tell a bit about self. I consider my self a socially conscious person, concerned over the social evil, moved when I read/hear/see child labour, infanticide, women and child harassment/abuse. I am not courageous to visit the children at the orphanage as they move me to tears and humble me. They make me realize the important, precious and comfortable life I lead.
Getting back to beach, I was amused to see her repeating the act of measuring the flowers again and again. I asked her if there was any problem and received no answer. I felt I should be more alert and the following thoughts crossed my mind :
a) What is she upto?
b) Was she unable to count after a certain number?
c) Was she trying to win my confidence and trick me?
d) Was she tired?
In the meanwhile , she finished measuring
The flowers and arranged them beautifully , checked her money and belongings, took her tambalam and said ‘varen akka’- bye.
She ran straight to the food stall , got some eatables and ate them. She then went to the man who was offering joy-rides in his horse, put the flowers down and went for a joy ride and enjoyed it thoroughly, laughing all the way. She came back from the ride and took up the job of selling flowers.
Her act made me ponder, how simple and easy things give her great pleasures and how easily she takes things. My daughter must be of her age only, though not a demanding child often feels bored. Does this girl have time to feel bored. I think and say I am a socially conscious person who is moved by so many things, but was it not presumptuous of me to doubt her integrity? Could it be my basic nature or the attitude of the monied class? With this attitude in my mind how could I claim I am concerned about these children.
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