It was a bright day in Chennai and I was sweating hard in the local train which was running between Chengalpet and Chennai Beach. I was heading to the beach for a few moments of pleasure. But its the one and a half hour of commute that displeases me thoroughly. Although I love the local train because its the cheapest mode of transport in Chennai, the way it gets crowded with all people pushing each other truly makes me frown. In addition to all the commotion around, I hate that beggars keep coming into the compartment posing themselves as blind asking for money. I use the word 'pose' because I do not generally entertain such things. Moreover, I believe that such people actually pretend to be handicapped so people give them money out of sympathy. Some people decide to sell biscuits, fruits or pens rather than beg. I have due respect for them. But what I do see is that they also demand sympathy by telling how their family is in poverty and how we should buy their items and help them run a family.
Fortunately that day, I managed to get myself a seat in one corner. I was accompanied by a friend who was trying to entertain me throughout the journey. While we were talking, a vendor came to me and asked if I could buy a set of safety pins from her. I looked at her, and she was a young girl, maybe around seventeen. Dark and beautiful, she carried a whole box of safety pins along with other accessories such as hair clips and earrings. She was wearing a faded pink lehenga, which was almost torn. She was silently looking at me, wondering if I would respond. She was not one of those ladies who came crying about their poverty like I mentioned before. And with that thought, I asked her the cost. She said '10 rupees' and I assumed I'd get 10 pins for that. She gave me the pins and I took the 10 rupees out of my purse, when I realised that she had given me not 10 but 20 pins. And like an honest girl, I gave her those extra pins along with the money. When she took the money and felt it with her hand, rather than see, I was amazed to realise the girl was blind. Moreover, she also returned those 10 pins saying she had quoted 10 bucks for 20 pins and not 10. Before I could say anything else, the train had reached the next station and she rushed out, maybe into another compartment.
I sat in silence, wondering about the girl. I didn't know who she was, but she did break the stigma I carried about vendors. I almost had tears in my eyes, knowing the plight of the blind girl. I couldn't believe a girl of her age could work so hard and yet expect no sympathy in spite of being visually challenged.
That moment was a truly inspiring one for me. It told me a lot about the plight of those young girls from the poorer background. Although they are not as rich as we are, do not have the privileges that we do, they put in more hard work to make their ends meet. It's funny how we shun them off. And since that moment, I have kept my belief regarding vendors aside, and helped every vendor by buying from them rather than in stores owned by rich businessmen.
Fortunately that day, I managed to get myself a seat in one corner. I was accompanied by a friend who was trying to entertain me throughout the journey. While we were talking, a vendor came to me and asked if I could buy a set of safety pins from her. I looked at her, and she was a young girl, maybe around seventeen. Dark and beautiful, she carried a whole box of safety pins along with other accessories such as hair clips and earrings. She was wearing a faded pink lehenga, which was almost torn. She was silently looking at me, wondering if I would respond. She was not one of those ladies who came crying about their poverty like I mentioned before. And with that thought, I asked her the cost. She said '10 rupees' and I assumed I'd get 10 pins for that. She gave me the pins and I took the 10 rupees out of my purse, when I realised that she had given me not 10 but 20 pins. And like an honest girl, I gave her those extra pins along with the money. When she took the money and felt it with her hand, rather than see, I was amazed to realise the girl was blind. Moreover, she also returned those 10 pins saying she had quoted 10 bucks for 20 pins and not 10. Before I could say anything else, the train had reached the next station and she rushed out, maybe into another compartment.
I sat in silence, wondering about the girl. I didn't know who she was, but she did break the stigma I carried about vendors. I almost had tears in my eyes, knowing the plight of the blind girl. I couldn't believe a girl of her age could work so hard and yet expect no sympathy in spite of being visually challenged.
That moment was a truly inspiring one for me. It told me a lot about the plight of those young girls from the poorer background. Although they are not as rich as we are, do not have the privileges that we do, they put in more hard work to make their ends meet. It's funny how we shun them off. And since that moment, I have kept my belief regarding vendors aside, and helped every vendor by buying from them rather than in stores owned by rich businessmen.
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