It was a chilling late evening of October month as deepavalli left winter along with its light. Winter started replacing the old skin with new. We were heading towards our home from avenue road and I can feel the winter in my spines as I was a Pavilion rider. Bangaluru traffic is crude in its peak hours since it was 9 PM vehicles look sparse on road.
It is hardly 10 min ride left to reach ..We need to halt in the signal as it is long lineup of vehicles in sangam circle .Our bike was footing next to a car. A boy in the school uniform carrying a basket in his hand came running to our side from the opposite signal. He is a flower seller selling jasmine garland in the signal .He was going to each car and bike in the signal and displaying remaining 4 (mola-length of a garland from finger tip to elbow) fold flowers in his basket.
The car owner next to our bike called him and asked him to sell it for 30Rs but he was requesting
“Uncle …40 Rs uncle…”
and he dint agreed and boy went to next car in front of him…and after few seconds the same car owner called him …he came jumping …and again deal started car owner was asking same flowers for 35Rs ..and this boy was not ready for that …and again they refused he went back to next vehicle.
I called him …he came showing his basket with remaining flowers..
…”Aunty only this much left aunty buy all these for 40 Rs …”
and I don’t want argue with as I know he will not agree for less than 40 Rs …deal done..…neither he nor I had any cover to keep flowers he just poured them on my lap …and he was receiving money suddenly a another boy came ..
“Aunty see ..I have only 1 fold buy it off also…”
both the boys are desperate to empty their baskets …flowers got Tranlocated to my lap…both of them told
“Thumba (many) thanks Aunty”
and rushed to the footpath as signal started showing yellow and than turned green. In less than span of 3 minutes they are done with their job.
Those 50Rs that I spent is earning of those boys and I was happy that it is in safe hands. These boys will hand over them to feeding hands at home. I know such boys know the value of each coin they earn. I felt happy for their determination as they are respecting their identity and the way he was doing transaction with his customers. The smile on their face at the end of the sale is not much different from my daughter’s smile after looking at a chocolate. I agree I can’t buy flowers each day but when I can buy chocolate to my daughter once in while …then I can buy flowers from him with no reason and purpose.
Playing games with their friends after school…. doing regular homework of his class...enjoying warmth of family… features of the normal childhood ….the right of each kid… they may not able to do it . After school they would have came to the signal with basket full of flower. Their earning disguised high-priced childhood. We have examples of graduates around us who can earn and learn together.
They have their own definitions of the childhood. They are leaning the required degree to live with honor in biggest institution of life along with their school learning. Before he completes his secondary school he will learn to live independently with his earnings. His hardwork and determinations will become his ladder to climb heights and such struggle will set an example how one can shape his fortune….we do have such numerous references from history . It is Jasmine fragrance on my lap was swinging with air and empty baskets got into warm house happily to end their day.
