Okay so, I was taking a stroll down a bucolic path with somewhat modish clothes, well at least something which was alienating me from the clique. So yeah, there I was minding my own business and a young girl of about , umm let’s say seven or eight , as cute as a button, walking bare foot and hair disheveled nudged me seeking attention. She probably wanted to sell me something, as I turned towards her I see her clutching those fancy pink pens with bobbly funko pop heads with a bouquet of red roses.
She had a grimace on her face as the pebbles on the road were being extremely rude to her. Her eyes so full of desperation which were waiting for me to nod my head and buy one of those merchandises. Her tattered clothes said more than just poverty, it showed her struggles and her compulsive need to do something for herself than others.To sum it all, it felt like her appearance contradicted exactly who she was. She persuaded me in a convincing tone . Before I could start any conversation with her, my friend chased her away and pulled me close. Rude? yeah I thought so too.
Days passed and one day I was eagerly waiting to board a bus so late at night and debilitated to my bones. I turn my head slightly to spot a familiar face. Yes there she was an adorable smol bean but trying to sell barbie stickers, this time,to piqued customers. She clutched a couple of ten rupee notes as though she was afraid to lose them when a customer made a prolific buy of two whole sticker packs. As she made her gesture to pay his change she lost a note which flew right into the middle of the road. The look on her face was so contrite everyone felt sorry for her as she fled right in front of a bike to save her note. As I saw through the bus window, a really old man incapacitated to walk, struggling through the roads ,seemed like he barely ate anything for months, gleamed at that note. He watched her earnestly, but truly wished he could get that note so he didn’t have to sleep hungry again.
The girl stood still staring at him, trying to be happy about her little lucrative adventure. As I fought my way to gain a look I was flummoxed as she walked right up to him and gave him the note, smiling. That was it, I had to talk to her I waited for days. Finally, the day came when the tiny sales girl with a golden heart made her third appearance. I could never forget her face but she obviously didn’t remember me because she nudged me just like she did , but before she could ask me I bought her pens trying to make her stay. She said ,”Thank you didi”. You can imagine how surprised I was when I heard her talk in English. I asked her if she went to school, she said she didn’t but she aspired to go someday. I loved her confidence as she said she learnt to speak talking to people.
As daring as she was, I asked her how she ventures every day she pointed at a dilapidated green shack. It was her father who polished shoes. Then she pointed at her mother selling balloons on the other end of the road. She smiled and said,” I have them, I need no protection”. As she continued, “I will become a big person and then I will take care of them”. That made my day. A seven year old taught me so diligently that happiness sees no bounds. She waved at me with such zeal and huge smile on her face as she made her way back.
We all are inundated with dreams. Most of us lose after coming so close to our dreams. It is not easy to maintain a straight face after watching your dreams shatter right in front of you especially when you have busted a gut for years. But the only thing that can get you through it is to have a smile on your face. Hard work always pays even if it takes time. In fact if you are losing, know this, you are on the right path you just need a bigger audience to celebrate your success with you. Just keep dreaming if she can, we all can 🙂
The Inner Me 