Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Random Acts

S left early morning and I overslept. Got up. Saw the time..***t! informed boss and rushed with the routine. Nice and fresh stood on the damn highway only to be ignored by damn autowalas for thirty minutes. A lost soul finally nodded in affirmative. The rest before him deserved eggs splattered on windshield. Losers! Man how I hate them. Anyway, was on the way lost in my own numbing thoughts when noticed the presence of a feeble old man standing at the intersection begging. In pouring rain the man had nothing covering his upper half. A sudden impulse and I yelled at the autowala to stop but he couldn't since the light had turned green and the horns had started blaring. Damn the impatience of everyone on roads. I had one apple. To break the fast in evening. Wanted to give it to that old man. Don't know why but was almost desperate, yelled to the old man and he tried to get closer but the auto was already pulling away. In a split second I took the decision to throw the packet with the apple inside at the old man. My last glimpse of him was his scared effort to retrieve the apple packet from the road while vehicles blared.
I had to close my eyes. Food is not supposed to be thrown. Food to others when given is never to be thrown. Its unforgivable. I don't know what went through me but it was unbearable. Maybe the thought I was not able to offer help in a fashion that I desired. Somehow this seemed bad. Flinging food at someone much older and much hungrier.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Hello Shazia ,
Hope u r doing well ? I make a sincere effort to take time out and read what your write , you are a gifted writer no doubts about it .This act of yours forced me to write what I felt . I had experienced some thing similar when I was young , much before KV days …. And I know what hunger can make people do …! Some acts are what you call random act of fate which our out of control , you throwing food to the old man will never be taken in bad light . I can vouch for that .That was the only way he could receive it .Some times people are forced to live life to survive .For some it happens when they are very small for some its all through out and for some in old age .
. Some times people will just accept the fate and will not fight to come out of this and perish or fade away with it , some acknowledge existence but don’t have means to get away , some get away from this act of fate but the scars and anguish caused because of this have profound ramifications on future and for some journey of life is like a blessing, they will just flow in the river and enjoy ….
The act which you did was a noble deed , throwing apple is not in the best way .But ,still did it as there was no other means . I am sure it would have made the old man happy . its difficult but you were able to make some one happy that day in your own way that is what counts . Today’s world people don’t have time you still managed to feed a hungry mouth and bring happiness. Your act has only made me respect you more as a person there is no bigger act then feeding a hungry mouth. Be it old or young .
You Take care
Cheers

Kshitij Singh

SA said...

Thanks K.

SA said...

Thanks K.