The Locals of Mumbai r the lifeline of our city ,as many wud say. LIFELINE....this word acquired a very different meaning just a few days back,when i traveled frm mankhurd to nerul in a "harbor line se jaane-wali..panvel ki gadi"..as the announcement goes.
At the station,I saaw a very dignified, pleasant looking lady talking to a beggar woman sitting on the platform with her child. it seemed to me that the lady had given them a packet of biscuit n was talking to her in general... where do u sty etc. It was just kindness on her part,yeah. but the full effect of the simple act of giving food and saying a few kind words to that beggar cud be felt when i saw the look on her face as the train left...her face reflected the gratitude she was feeling and there was a sad smile.. but soon all incident forgotten,she returned to her job.
just made me realize ...when we give a Re.1 coin to a beggar,how much r we helping him,how much of a diff is that coin gonna make to his life?
I always refrain frm giving money to beggars, wud rather give food,that makes me happy.
In the Train,there were many kids selling stuff ranging frm pens,other accessories to clips,food...kids hardly 9-12.
although that's a regular feature in all locals,but the incident at the station jst made me notice more. it is so sad. Kids that small have to work fr food,sustain.. looking at that small,frail boy wid his dirty pair of shorts and shirt shouting "dus rupya" was heart wrenching. why can't we do something abt it? Is education the answer? maybe yes..but as i sat thr in the "fourth-seat" in the train ,all i wished i cud do,was give him a proper meal,clothes and somehow ensure that he wudnt have to sell those pens on train.
how i wished the trains weren't his LIFELINE..
The experience while coming back was totally different. The sets of ppl involved were probably the same...slum kids..13-14 age group,visibly poor..no education. tha case,however ws diff. it ws around 10 pm..the ladies compartment was almost empty..hardly 5-6 women..when i got in frm nerul. When the Vashi creek came,I got up as mankhurd was the next stop n i love feeling the pleasant breeze when the train crosses the creek...i stand safely inside the door,though.When i got to the door,i saw 4-5 kids standing there,all boys. But when the bridge arrived, i was totally shocked to see them almost hanging out of the train,just a foot and one hand holding them to the train. Not being used to traveling in trains,more so by night..i thought i shud stop them. but was hesitant. soon another lady came and shouted at them.then something happened that made my hair stand on end. one of the boys,just climbed smhow to the top of the train...while it was moving at top speed over the creek. I was totally scared..all through the journey he went thr,i cud see his feet at the windows and my eyes were glued to them..praying all the time.."God pls let them be thr"....finally mankhurd came and he got down.Y did he do that?..for the thrill?...whatever.
There r ppl like that beggar woman or the poor boy selling pens,who will do anything to sustain,to ensure that they r alive...and then there r kids like these who dont give any damn value to their life.. LIFELINE ...indeed.
At the station,I saaw a very dignified, pleasant looking lady talking to a beggar woman sitting on the platform with her child. it seemed to me that the lady had given them a packet of biscuit n was talking to her in general... where do u sty etc. It was just kindness on her part,yeah. but the full effect of the simple act of giving food and saying a few kind words to that beggar cud be felt when i saw the look on her face as the train left...her face reflected the gratitude she was feeling and there was a sad smile.. but soon all incident forgotten,she returned to her job.
just made me realize ...when we give a Re.1 coin to a beggar,how much r we helping him,how much of a diff is that coin gonna make to his life?
I always refrain frm giving money to beggars, wud rather give food,that makes me happy.
In the Train,there were many kids selling stuff ranging frm pens,other accessories to clips,food...kids hardly 9-12.
although that's a regular feature in all locals,but the incident at the station jst made me notice more. it is so sad. Kids that small have to work fr food,sustain.. looking at that small,frail boy wid his dirty pair of shorts and shirt shouting "dus rupya" was heart wrenching. why can't we do something abt it? Is education the answer? maybe yes..but as i sat thr in the "fourth-seat" in the train ,all i wished i cud do,was give him a proper meal,clothes and somehow ensure that he wudnt have to sell those pens on train.
how i wished the trains weren't his LIFELINE..
The experience while coming back was totally different. The sets of ppl involved were probably the same...slum kids..13-14 age group,visibly poor..no education. tha case,however ws diff. it ws around 10 pm..the ladies compartment was almost empty..hardly 5-6 women..when i got in frm nerul. When the Vashi creek came,I got up as mankhurd was the next stop n i love feeling the pleasant breeze when the train crosses the creek...i stand safely inside the door,though.When i got to the door,i saw 4-5 kids standing there,all boys. But when the bridge arrived, i was totally shocked to see them almost hanging out of the train,just a foot and one hand holding them to the train. Not being used to traveling in trains,more so by night..i thought i shud stop them. but was hesitant. soon another lady came and shouted at them.then something happened that made my hair stand on end. one of the boys,just climbed smhow to the top of the train...while it was moving at top speed over the creek. I was totally scared..all through the journey he went thr,i cud see his feet at the windows and my eyes were glued to them..praying all the time.."God pls let them be thr"....finally mankhurd came and he got down.Y did he do that?..for the thrill?...whatever.
There r ppl like that beggar woman or the poor boy selling pens,who will do anything to sustain,to ensure that they r alive...and then there r kids like these who dont give any damn value to their life.. LIFELINE ...indeed.
