How hard some people have to work to make ends meet!
This was the weekend for pest control at my house. The pest control guy was supposed to reach by 10.30 am. He called to let us know that he would be a little late.
It was noon, and there was no sign of him. Tempers started to rise, and his number was dialled again.
“About to reach”, was his response.
He reached fifteen minutes later, drenched in sweat. A thin, middle aged man, he had a mild look.
“Would you like to have some water?”, asked my mother.
“Yes madam, thank you”, he said and immediately gulped down a couple of glasses of water, adding, “I’ve been cycling from Patna City and it is quite hot outside.”
He had cycled fifteen kilometres in the hot, sweltering noon sun.
He told us later, that he always does that. The more houses he covers, the more incentive pay he gets. Money is important, he tells us, with a family to support and skyrocketing prices. We nod in agreement.
There is not much I can say to him. Till yesterday, getting the pesticide job done was just one task on a list. But today, I view it as something more than that.
Seemingly inconsequential encounters sometimes give you a new perspective.
6 comments:
It is in these encounters that you discover life and living. and how fortunate some of us are.
Great post. Caused me to pause and reflect.
I agree with your last line. It has become really difficult to survive these days for a common man. Great post, short and crisp:)
yes...if we take a moment to ponder here and there...we have a lot to learn and better our lives :)
Your final sentence was the jkey one. Perspective. You're quite right. Great post. And even greater to read you again after my holidays in Cornwall.
Greetings from London.
So thought provoking...the last line was really a striking one and it's well conveyed. Like your humanistic concerns:-)
Nice read ..
with trivial moments we can learn a lot !!
Post a Comment