It was a fortnight back when I was home early, compared to
routine return time of 8 p.m. It was nice cool evening since,
it had rained for the whole day and the skies had just cleared up. Weather
outside the office was so pleasing, refreshing and encouraging to just have fun
with family and friends. It also did have a lot of fresh air to fill my
exhausted lungs. I took many deep breaths and ate a lot of it. The freshness of
the air was so pure that it cleaned all prejudices I had against one and many.
Even after
a fortnight I still remember the joy I saw on my wife and daughter’s face.
Since, they rarely see me home at that time. It really was a joy filled time
for them too. I have treasured those moments in my heart forever. Those moments
are truly unforgettable for me. It really is an unknown miracle of love to show
how much a person’s closeness is desired by his or her family.
The union
was grand. We hugged, giggled, and laughed. Of course all these are a part of
our daily lives but, that day was different and special. We had a refreshing break
with a cup of hot tea and few snacks to relish ourselves. The time was ticking
towards darkness. It was almost half past 6. My wife expressed a desire to
have a small outing nearby. I agreed and we three were off to a nearby market.
We checked out traditional wear for our daughter for the upcoming festival. Wow..!
Superb workmanship on cloth. The embroidery on cloth was really eye-catching.
Those artists got my appreciation. Oh mi gosh...! The pricing for a three year
old Child's sizing were of course exorbitant even before a month of the
festivities. I wonder what the rates might be for adult sizes on that day and
what they will be just before the event. We decided to buy one for our daughter
soon.
We started
our return from the cloth market toward our home. While returning I had an urge
to have some more snack. The legendary “Gol-Gappa”. Commonly known as
“Pani-Puri”. Any Indian would know what “Gol-Gappa” is. Hmm..! The spice
filled water plus the combination of chick-peas and boiled & mashed potatoes
added to a small round shaped pan-cake. Please excuse me, am unable to describe
the design of “Gol-Gappa”. My daughter & wife were too excited to relish
its taste while I, was ecstatic to see the enthusiasm on their faces and to
tickle my taste-buds. Since, there was a lot of rush we waited for our turn.
While the
others were being served, wife and daughter were having a chat; I was busy
observing other customers, the owner of the shop, and others. There came a group
of laborers to fill their growling stomachs. I could easily guess that they had
just returned from a hard, busy, and tiring day. They took their turns eating
“Gol-Gappa” by ordering different versions or additions to it. The owner
happily adhered to their choices. They were happy too. I observed the way they
were talking, standing, and looking here and there, ordering the owner to
change some additions. After observing them and their gestures I guessed that they
were drunk to their fullest. I felt pity for them. I wonder why someone would
have the urge to drink liquor after a worthwhile day. It still is a question
mark for me.
I having
worked in so many industries in association of vice-presidents, region heads,
senior managers, managers and laborers alike till date, applied my experience
and logic to understand this. It was so simple yet so complicated for me to
understand that liquor is one of the sources to release mental and or physical strain.
I asked myself “Is this the only source to release oneself from all pressures?”
The answer was right in front of me. The laborers usually surrender themselves
to liquor to forget the physical strain they have during the day. The C-Suite
and senior management class drink to suppress and or forget mental pressures. I
have also seen laborers working in industries where physical strain was more
than other industry, such as municipal drainage cleaning, workers in paint
factory, and many other laborers who have to consume liquor to perform their
duties. Absence of liquor and the work surely suffers.
Coming back
to the laborers standing in front of me. Looking at them, I guessed they
probably did not have any ambitions in their life. I may be absolutely wrong.
Maybe they had even more than me. But, I think probably the social status which
they had, was not allowing them to accomplish their ambitions. Looking at their
physical status, which was quite frail, told about substandard living
conditions and lack of nourishing food. There are millions like them across the
world. I wonder who would care for them. But, of course, their eyes had a gleam
of hope. The glow was bright enough to sustain a hope of a better tomorrow. A
hope which they would carry for the coming days and anticipating a brighter tomorrow
and the will to keep on working.
All the
while when I was thinking about all this, I did realize that these of laborers
were happier than me. Why? Because; I was or maybe I am under constant fear of
losing my job or a threat of losing a promotion or may be a stiff competition
from a friend and colleague or more seriously a conspiracy against me. All these
mental strains along with physical fatigue which are quite negligible compared
to theirs make me appear unhappy, even
though I earn a modest amount of money. Apart from that I do have a surety that
I will have work the next day whereas they work as a daily wager with no
guarantee of work the next morning and yet they appeared happy, making merry of
their time.
The lesson
which I learned from these day laborers that day is to keep oneself positive,
never think too much about the future, never fear anything, one will get in
return what one has given, increase knowledge or skill to be different from
others, remember that, one who hatches a conspiracy will himself be a victim of
it, mental strain is the cause of all miseries. With lots of gratitude I thank
those people who made me learn very important aspects of life. Thank you, Friends.
Later at
around 9.30 p.m. we dined together while talking how the day passed by. By
the time the dinner was through it was well past 10.15 p.m. We retired for the day at 10.30.
Wow..! What
a day it was..! I had a lot of learning on that day. I did start implementing
those invaluable indirect teachings those laborers gave away and am finding my
living worthwhile. Thank you once again.
*****
