I had an interesting human experience last week.
As I was leaving work on friday, around 11 pm in the night, I stopped at the nearest signal. It had been a tiring day and I was really looking forward to the weekend. The was a slight drizzle in the air. The temperature was pleasant and cool. As I was waiting impatiently for the green light, someone tapped me on the shoulder. It was a young boy, around 12-13 years of age. He had a blue plastic bucket in his hand and was smiling brightly.
"Can you please drop me at the next signal sir?" he asked me in chennai tamil.
I am not one to offer a lift in general but this one was a kid. So I asked him to hop on. As we were driving towards the next signal, he spoke all of a sudden.
"Sir, I sell murukku in Velachery. I just finished the day's sales and now I am going back home to study...". I wondered why he told me that. But I was touched by the fact that he was going back to study. I liked his interest in studying.
I asked him, "Good. So, where is you house?".
"T.Nagar".
Pretty close to my place. So as I drove past the next signal I told him, "I will drop you there since I am going there as well". I saw him smile on the mirror. He said "Thanks".
I asked him, "So where do you study?".
"Corporation school sir". He paused. "Sir, can I ask you a favor?".
I thought this was another case where someone is going to ask me for money. I hate it when that happens. I am paranoid enough to believe that anyone who asks you money in the name of a favor is not being honest. I like to help people not by giving them money but in kind. I dont know why but I always have a suspicion about people who want only money. My kind hearted nature has been taken advantage of too many times for my comfort.
"My english teacher wants all of us to buy a workbook. But I dont have the money to buy it... Can you please buy me that book? It costs only 30 rupees. I know a book store that I open at this time in the night."
I was touched. Even before I could blink, I said, "Yes" and we started driving towards the bookshop. On the way, I asked him, "So what do your parents do?".
"My dad lost his job last month. Since then he has been drinking all the time. Even when he doesnt drink, his friends tempt him into a drink. Whatever little he earns now, he spends it all drinking. I have two sisters, one in the first standard and the other in the third standard. He doesnt care about any of us. My mom works as a maid and earns some money during the day. She then makes murukku in the afternoon and given it to me when I some back from school. We manage to make some money by selling it".
"Do you get any time to study then?"
"Yes sir. I get up at 6 in the morning and get atleast two hours to study. 8 o clock I go to school and some back at 3 pm. My mom keeps the murukku ready by that time. I take the bus to Velachery and sell it everyday until 10 in the night. By the time I come back home its 11 o clock. So, I get one more hour to study until I go to sleep at 12."
I wasn't speaking.
"I also study well sir. I get 2nd or 3rd rank always. Because I study well, my teachers like me a lot. This year I could not pay the school fees as we dont have the money. So I dont have the books or the uniform. But they dont complain because they know I study properly. I manage to borrow books and study."
Just as he said that, we were at the bookshop. Unfortunately the bookshop had just been closed. We went around the place looking for any other shops that could be open but all were closed. I could see the disappointment writ large on his face. I turned around and we
were back on the way to his house.
I felt a tinge of disappointment myself. Both of us did not speak for a minute. Then,
"How much is this year's fees for you?"
In a low tone, he said, "hundred and fifty rupees sir"
For a moment, it could not believe it. I did not know that all that it takes for a child to study for a whole year is a hundred and fifty bucks. I spend that money everytime I order a pizza. I tip waiters that much. The average drink in a swank pub costs that much, if not more. Have I ever thought even once before splurging that money on the tip or a pizza or a drink? How many of us know that the little amount of a hundred and fifty bucks can change a kid's life for a whole year, if not his whole life?
I was lost in my own thoughts. The kid wasnt speaking either. Maybe he was disappointed that he missed a good chance to get his book. We reached a spot close to his house and I decided to drop him there. As he got down, he said "thanks sir" and started walking. I pulled out my wallet, called him and gave him 500 bucks. He was hesitant when he saw the money but then smiled.
"Can I pay by school fees with this?" he said with a wide smile on his face. I said yes and before he could say a word, drove away. I was smiling from within. Somehow I felt, this money is going to play its part in making a boy's life.
