museman

< ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> I understand that the first part of this article (scroll down my blog and you will find it) was pretty heavy. In fact, hadn't intended it to be a two part article. But then again, I have something to add. The other side of the story.  Let's start the story in the classical way. 

Once upon a time, a street urchin asked me for two rupees.  "Rendu rupayeelu unte ee Anna. Edainaa tintaanu".  I was in a jolly good mood. I gave him a two rupee coin. I had some errands to run. I ran them (!) and while I was going back, I saw this street urchin again. With gold flake chota in hand. It was MY two rupee which was now a cigarette in the hands of a 13-14 year old boy.  I stopped and stared at him.  And he gave me a kind of smile if I had to convert into a verbal communication, it would mean, "Take lite boss".  An involuntary smile escaped my lips and I walked on to home.

A friend of mine recalled an episode that happened to his friend. Friends friends (FF) experience so to speak. FF had given a twenty rupee note out of generosity, taking pity on the woe begone story of a street side beggar. Five minutes down the line, he saw the beggar with a half-pack of gold flake.  The beggar was smoking spiritedly and didn