Beggars are because of us.

I always wondered that somewhere we are responsible for the beggars on the streets of India. The survival instincts of the human race are by far the best, there is no denying that. So, if each one of us stops paying these beggars, then they will be forced to look somewhere else for their daily bread. It is because we pay them, they highly depend on us, and do not work for their daily bread, also their number keeps on increasing. Its not uncommon to hear cases of children being stolen and forced to become beggars. Not only children, women as well as men also face the same fate at times. Stories of even amputation of limbs have come to light, in order to be pitied at, and earn more from begging.

So, if we stop paying the beggars, will their number actually decrease? Won't they resort to criminal activities? Well, the possibility cannot be completely ruled out. But, isn't it the duty of the Police to keep a check on the criminal activities? Also, what assurance do we have that these beggars aren't criminals? Its a possibility that they apart from being beggars are also thieves, cheaters etc.

The another question that springs to the mind is, what about the physically challenged beggars, where will they go? I would say, just look around you, travel in a municipal bus once and you will realise. There are so many diverse, physically challenged people who work to earn their daily bread. I remember when I was in 11th standard, I used the PMT at times to travel to college, and believe me, there were two blind men and one lame man who used to travel to their work place every morning in the same bus and that too without any assistance from anyone.

I was discussing the same issue with a friend recently. We were seated in his car, when a young, healthy looking woman, in her late twenties, carrying a child came up to us to beg. I stopped him from paying her, I found her healthy enough to fend for herself and her child. He said, its not easy for them to get a job, I said its not easy even for us, graduates from reputed schools, to land in a job. I never said that getting a job is easy, but atleast its not impossible. There are so many daily wage labourers, and there is always a want for more. There are NGOs setup to help these people find jobs, help them bring that change in their life, so that they start living a more dignified life.

So think about it before you pay a beggar the next time. Its our responsibility as well to make a difference. Well this is my take on the issue, do post in your views as well, I will be glad.

Just a moment

"Sochna kya jo bhi hoga dekha jayega... Kal ke liye aaj ko na khona, aaj yeh na kal aayega..." song was playing as she was getting ready to leave. She glanced at the watch, she was running late, quickly she switched off the player, rushed outside and locked the door.
It was a good start to her day, she was happy, and was humming the song in her mind. She reached the office, and just like any other day, greeted her friend with the usual Good Morning, but today instead of the general 'Good Morn' reply, she just got a cold stare. She said "Arey baap re lagta hai aaj Meena madam ka mood theek nahi hai" and giggled. At this Meena turned and snapped at her, and told her to mind her own business. She was quite taken aback, she was concerned, she said "Sorry Meena, I didnt mean to hurt you, what's wrong? Is everything allright". Meena snapped again "I told you to mind your own business, now will you stop bothering me!" She thought that its better to keep shut now, if need be, she will talk to her later. But somehow the charm and freshness of the morning, which she felt had vanished. Her phone rang, she picked up the phone, and it was her friend on the line. She greeted him with a hello, but what she got in return was unexpected. He too snapped at her for some very stupid reason. This put her off completely!

Later during the day, another friend of hers called her up, and they also ended up quarrelling. She was really frustrated now, she couldn't concentrate on her work either. To top it all, her room mate, her best friend called her up, and was really angry with her, because of some stupid mistake on her part, she had to suffer, and all her hard work went down the drain. She felt pathetic, almost choking, her roomie hung up on her. She clenched her fist tight, everything was so miserable.

At work, her deadline was approaching, and nothing seemed to be working, every other thing that could never fail was also failing, and that too in the most complex manner. Her head was throbbing with pain now, as if it would burst open any minute. She wanted to scream, but had to resort to only a tightly clenched jaw, to give vent to her frustrations.

Finally the day ended, and it was time to leave for home. She wanted to leave the office as soon as possible, but didn't want to go home either, but she knew, she had to head for home straight. When she was leaving office, she received an sms, from a friend who had a confession to make. She messaged him back, promising that she won't be angry, and to go ahead with the confession. The next minute she received a long message, on reading the message, her bag fell from her hand. Her friend alongwith another friend of his, had been playing a prank on her for the whole of last week. She just replied with a false laugh, but nothing could match the anger that was burning her heart then. She rushed to her bike, and zoomed out of the office. The mockery, the anger, the argument, everything was hurting her. An urge to scream again took over her, warm tears were flowing down her cheek by now, her head felt as it it will split open any second, she shut her eyes tight, suddenly there was an excruciating pain and everything was silent after that, all the pain had gone, she felt as if she is in some deep, very deep sleep.

Next day in the morning, her friend Meena, was waiting in the office for her, so that she can tell her the good news. Her desk phone was ringing, her friend wanted to say sorry to her, coz he for no reason had snapped at her the yesterday. Another friend of her's was trying to call her up on her mobile, to say how stupid she felt, for quarreling with her on such a dumb reason. Her seniors at work were waiting to tell her, that the deadline of her work was extended and she had enough time to complete her work comfortably. Her prankster friends were sending her sorry messages, but none were getting delivered.

Her roomie, sitting beside the hospital bed, had come to know later that it wasn't her mistake, now all she could do was pray, that she comes out of the coma, and all the injuries which she sustained in that terrible road accident, heal faster, while waiting for her parents to arrive.

Shocking Incident
How many times have we come across Municipality workers, doing their assigned chores, without any kind of protective gear! A common sight ... isn't it? But, recently what I saw was far from common or was it really not that uncommon?

I was on my way to F. C. Road, when just after the Pulgate crossing, there was a huge traffic jam. I was confused as there were no signs of road accidents. I observed everyone was looking up, and I followed, but the sight which awaited was terrible. My heart stopped beating, I couldn't breathe...I quickly looked away, I tried to drive away fast but the whole traffic was stalled and I couldn't get out of there. I tried to manoeuver my car so that I can take a turn and go some other way...but there were electricity wires strewn on the road. I was helpless, and my eyes fell on that electricity pole again. A boys dead body was hanging upside down from the pole, his legs were entwined and his torso was dangling down, lifeless. Another man, on top of the pole was trying to pull him up, he caught hold of his hand and pulled the boy's body up, but the hand slipped and the body swayed in an awkward position. I couldn't look anymore!

I had to get out of there, somehow I managed to make someway and get out of there, as more and more people were stopping by to take a look. I found it disgusting, as all these people were there only to watch the tamasha. I agree the workers were helping to get the body down quickly but simply gathering around and watching, as if some show was on, disgusted me more. I wonder if somebody had called an ambulance or no. I agree neither did I call an ambulance, well how often are you confronted with such sights, so as to have the sense to call up an ambulance. I bet when others surely had the hearts to watch such a sight, they would indeed have had the guts to react and call an ambulance.

That was the first time in my life that I saw a dead body from this close. I was disturbed, rather the sight still flashes in front of my eyes. Later, I thought, how we don't value life in India. This is just one incident there may be hundreds of them happening everyday, in each city, all because of faulty practices. Probably the accident that I saw, could have been avoided if proper safety precautions were taken. A household's bread-winner wouldn't have been lost.

I don't know how to curse the government. I wonder if God will have to construct a VIP hell for them, something beyond imagination. I bet, God surely has some surprises awaiting these politicians. But whats the use cursing them? How proactive are we? What have we done for the nation? I don't know .. everywhere you go...TV channels, Movies .. everyone is talking about it.. thousand more are talking of getting inspired from it.. but why dont I see any action? Probably I am the wrong person to be asking such questions... after all I wasn't even inspired, neither have I acted on a thing, with patriotism being the cause for it.

Most people say... my blogs have a negative streak to them. All the stories I write are sad and painful. But, this is not a story, its a true incident. How much does this hurt you? I bet all my stories look subtle in the face of harsh reality.

Do call up the ambulance if you come across such situation. It was my first, and I am sharing my experience so that you do not make the same mistake, which I committed.

Friend

He drove there, as fast as he could, farther and farther away. He took a turn dropped his bike and sprinted towards the trees, he ran till he came to a cliff. Tears were streaking down his face, he knelt, buried his head in his hands and started sobbing.

It was late evening, the sun had already set, it was slowly getting dark. He sat there like a statue gazing into nothing. His eyes were swollen, his crying reduced to soft sobs and breathing was hurting his chest. The birds had already returned home, and a few stars were already twinkling in the sky.

He lied down on his side, on the cold rocks beneath, his eyes closed slowly. After a few moments, he turned and rested on his back, gazing at all the bright stars in the night sky. He stayed there for a while, a tear rolled down from the side of his eye, his eyes were burning.

He slowly slid his hand in his pocket and removed a pack of cigarettes. He looked at the packet, as a fresh pool of tears filled his eyes. He tossed it in his hands for a while, then he slowly got up and walked towards the edge of the cliff. He took a last look at the packet and a thought of, one last smoke, came to his mind. At the thought his heart started burning again and then he threw away the packet with all his might.

He walked back to his bike, picked it up and left the cliff. On his way back, he was thinking, thinking hard, as if preparing himself for something. He was trying to console himself. Phrases like 'Whatever happens, happens for your own good' 'Time is the best healer' and all that. His heart felt heavy again, and his eyes were so swollen that not a single tear formed in them, and they burned as if on fire.

He stopped in front of a white building, even at this hour of the night, there was a lot of activity going on in the building. An ambulance screeched to a stop in front of the gate and suddenly there was a flurry of staff running around. There was a man on the stretcher, his face was covered in blood, making it unrecognizable.

After the passage was clear, he started moving towards the building. His legs were feeling heavy, and his heart was heavier. He came to a stop in front of a room with glass windows, and peered inside.

The sight of a human body, almost lifeless, with dozens of instruments punched into it, is terribly painful. He stood there, looking at the body of a man, with instruments all around him, beeping, pulsating machines. This man lying in the hospital bed, meant so much to him. He was always there for him, as far as he could remember.

The first time they went to school, they were together. They even got their first bicycles on the same day. The first time they went to college, they were together. They also had their first smoke together. He cursed the day they started smoking.

It was a beautiful morning and their first year results were out and both of them had scored more than their expectations. They were excited as they went to the shack outside the college, to have tea. The whole college gang was there, and everyone was celebrating. He can not remember clearly who offered them the first cigarette and when did it become an integral part of their life. They never even thought of quitting, because it was the 'in' thing and they enjoyed it so much. Soon the count had gone up from one or two stubs to almost 16 a day.

He could see his own health was deteriorating, but his friend's was worse. The moment he smoke, he would get an attack of incessant coughs. How much he urged his friend to stop, but all his efforts went down the drain. He used to steal his pack of cigarettes and throw them away, still somehow he managed to get his hands on some stubs.

On the night of Jan 16th, he suddenly woke up to the coughs of his friend, which just wouldnt stop. He got up and rushed to his bed, and was shocked to see blood on his sheet. He managed to wake up a few others in the hostel and soon they got him to the hospital.

He started walking, and came to a stop in front of another similar door, and a similar sight greeted him, the only difference, this time it was the body of an old man. A boy, almost the same age as his, was attending to him. He was thankful, atleast his friend wasn't inflicting such agony on his offsprings and soulmate. But, at the same time, he thought, about the future of his friend, he had no future at all.

He wondered how a careless attitude left them with nothing, not even a future, which for most of them is the only ray hope. He returned to his friend's room and sat there, staring at the watch as the minutes ticked away, and he couldn't do anything about it. He had to just wait and watch.