Monday, January 28, 2008

"God Bless you Bhaiyya"

Brigade Road in Bangalore is one of the famous shopping streets in the country. Standalone boutiques of brand factories attract you like anything. They have Adidas, Levis, Gas, Dockers, Puma and loads of other stuff that empty your pockets,your hard earned money and leave you wanting for more.
And over there that day, I found innocence on that street. Innocence. 2.5 feet tall. Holding roses in their hands. Asking for someone to buy them. Pleading may be the right word. Then they found a new customer: me. 3 little, sweet girls, flocked me and started pleading to buy the roses they were carrying.
I didnt know what to do. They wouldnt let me walk. I was caught off guard, and couldnt do anything, but to ask them the price.Here is how our conversation went by:
(For all practical purposes, I will call them Cute1, 2 and 3. )

Cute1: Bhaiyya, please buy the roses na. Please bhaiyya. Please bhaiyya. They are only for 10 bucks.
Me: Ok. Ok. Give me 3 roses. (I take my wallet out)
Cute1: Bhaiyya please buy 10 roses bhaiyya. I will be very happy. Please bhaiyya. Buy 10 roses na.
Me: What will do buying those 10 roses?
Cute1: You can keep it in the church bhaiyya. Please buy 10 roses.
Me: Ok, Ok, give me 10 roses. (I take a 100 Re. note out and give it to her.)
Cute2: Bhaiyya, please buy my 10 roses to bhaiyya. Please buy my 10 roses too.
Me: No, No. Please let me go, I dont have time.
Cute2 & Cute 3: No Bahiyya, you have to buy the roses. 10 her and 10 mine. Please bhaiyya.

I could see the twinkle in their eye with a shade of fear. Questions came and went. Like a gusto wind. What will happen if they wont sell all the roses today? Will they get a bashing from someone living of them? Or will they sleep empty stomach as they usually do? Will they be hurt by someone more powerful yet immature?

Me: Ok. Ok. One by one. Please wrap all the roses in one cardboard and give it to me. And make sure you dont crush them. ( I take out my wallet again and hand over 200 bucks to them.)
Cute 1 & Cute 2 & Cute 3: Thank you bhaiyya. Thank you bhaiyya. God bless you bhaiyya.

That was one of the purest form of blessings i have ever got.

I saw the happiness in their eyes and suddenly i felt at peace. A different kind of contenment ran through the body.
You know the cost of making a difference? Well for me, it was just 300 Rs. What is it for you?