A Small Message..!!

After a long time I am writing something, this gap was basically because of the annoying work load and the “other” problems circling around my life. Finally, there were crackers showering light in the dark, that is, I got a 10 day leave for Diwali. Going home after two months of job torture and weird experiences in this city, I can totally understand the importance of Diwali day to Lord Rama who was away from home for 14 freaking years, that too with twists and turns everywhere.

Anyways, so in this holiday mood and Diwali bonus excitement I had been for shopping yesterday. It was a bliss to use your own earned hard cash for your family. The money I earned working for 30 whole days, I did not think twice spending a lot of it in hardly 3 hours. I was on the streets of F.C., hunting down a few shops and then J.M was the next destination. With all the colored jewellery and shining clothes, I hardly realized my hunger craves. When they were impossible to avoid, I finally had to pause down and eat something. I ordered a chocolate sandwich; I was told the guy on F.C makes them very yummy. While waiting for my order I observed a strange thing there.

There were 3 kids nearby; one was around a 15 year old guy who was taking orders on the sandwich stall where I ordered mine. He had this “Happy Dent” smile on his face each time he took some order. His loud typical tone repeating the order to the cook inside and the way he managed the crowds was really impressive. The best part about him was his spiked hair and the music player he kept near his table. 

The second guy I saw was sitting a little farther with wood bangles. He was fat, short and not more than 12 years of age. He was seating there munching chips when a girl came there asking him the rate of a few bangles. The girl tried hard to bargain with the kid, but he convinced her with his sweet talks to buy the bangles without compromising for a rupee. This fella had a huge smile when the girl left after buying things from him.

The third guy was a mere 5 year old selling heart shaped balloons. He was so smart that he would deliberately go to couple standing and ask the girls if they wanted balloons. Rarely, couples especially the ones “newly committed” would refuse buying something as romantic as a heart shaped balloon. Plus, the guy was so cunning; he would make a sad and innocent face to people who would not buy anything from him. The sympathy trick worked well for him most of the times.

There were many such working kids there. It seems they work everyday, they have no festive vacations or no celebrations. In fact, festivals are always more hectic and busy to these little ones. At the age where Diwali is a source of fun and enjoyment, for them it is now a source of living. 

Even with little or almost no education these kids were very smart. I mean, think over it, we could hardly manage a tiny game booth in our school fair when 15 years old, let alone a whole food stall on one of the busiest streets of the city. And when 5 year old we could hardly go the neighbor’s house alone, roaming on the streets alone was something never even thought of. Aren’t these kids smart and tough? They can survive, good and bad times, with a smile on their face. This is something that we, the educated, principled and mature grownups cannot do most of the times.

This was a blog just to ask each of you reading it to do something good this Diwali. Something for those working kids – children working on food stalls, kids selling stuff on roads and so many. Maybe we could buy a kid a new dress, or light crackers with all kids who work even on Diwali selling Pooja stuff outside temples or serving people in restaurants, or maybe just roam around all over the city distributing sweets. I remember this coke add a few years back, a group of friends lighting diyas everywhere, we can get a little inspired from it and do something – anything actually. I hope I make somebody happy this Diwali and I wish each one who has read this does it too…

Let’s make this a “Happy Diwali” guys..!!

- By Anvi Mehta