All of twelve years,he was born an adult.
Whenever my daughter comes from Bangalore,she keeps aside a day to go shopping with me.This time also when she came here, we roamed the length and breadth of Usman road and finally,when we could not bear the heat anymore, that was reason enough for us to go to our favourite restaurant for some snacks.
I sat myself comfortably and looked around.Next to our table came and sat a family consisting of father,mother and their son.The parents were middle aged,that explained the way they fussed over their son, who must have been a little more or less than twelve years.
“Do you want masala dosa?”asked the mother in all earnestness.
“No” ,replied the son sullenly..
“Why don’t you have idiappam?You like idiyalppam,no?”asked the father with great affection.
Oh,no”whined the son.
“Ok,we will order some sweet”, so saying the father ordered some sweet item,I think it was Gulab Jamun.The boy had such an irritating facial expression.
The sweet arrived.The mother scooped out a spoonful of the sweet and solicitiously tried to feed her son.The much pampered son,shook away her hand and took the plate with the sweet on it and threw it on the ground.The glass plate broke,the water in the tumblers splashed all around and we at the nearby table were aghast!
On hearing the commotion at that table, the Manager of the hotel, who was also minding the cash box,came near with an angry look on his face..One look at the parents of the boy,his countenance changed,for they were a wealthy couple and one could easily detect it by looking at the rich clothes they wore and the jewellery that adorned them and also the casual stance that they took inspite of their son behaving in such an obnoxious manner.When the father offered to pay for the damages caused ,the manager said,”Oh no problem sir,after all he is a child you see.Children are always like that only,slightly mischievous.Don’t worry,we will take care of it”said he.
“Please get the place cleaned” said the father in an authoritative tone.
“Yes sir”,said the manager and called out for the cleaner boy.The cleaner boy, whose name I learnt later was Ramu came to that table carrying a pail of water, a mop and a duster.He cleaned their table,mopped the floor splashed with water, painstakingly and while he lifted the pail and started walking,he stumbled and would have fallen down but he somehow straightened up.But in that process, the pail with the water shook and some water splashed on the ground.
“Oh my God,he can’t even clean the floor,what type of boy is he”,so saying the father patted his fore head with his fingers.
The manager got wild wth the boy.”You swine,you cant even clean the floor properly!”So saying he gave the boy a solid slap on his cheek and as an after thought he also gave him a blow on his back.Sitting in the adjucant table and watching this human drama,my heart bled.I could not help my eyes from misting.But the boy Ramu, I am sad to say, had no emotion on his face.He silently stood up and carried the pail of water and the mop and walked away.
Ramu,head of a family consisting of his seven siblings,his father who had no job,his mother who was sick,has no time for emotions.Eventhough he is also hardly a twelve year old boy,he was born an adult.
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Dear Kala,
Thank you.
Mythili
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Born an adult.........well said. That is the true picture of many boys who work in tea shops and hotels.It is sad.
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Beautiful and touching story...It's unfortunate that those who have the facilties , misuse them and those who dont have struggle for every thing...yash
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Thank you,Usha.
Mythili
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Yes.Little boys and girls who have to work to earn a living are born grown up.
Mythili
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v2004,
Thank you for those kind and motivating words.Appreciation from friends is worth all the wealth in the world.
God willing we may meet in person.
Regards
Mythili
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Dear Mr.Subbu,
Thank you for your nice comment.We see children going through this agony in all walks of life. On my part I try to be nice and kind to the maids who work for me.
I worked in Pune as a teacher.Acolleague of mine whose husband was in the army,used to teach poor children to read and write.I saute her wherever she is now!
Mythili
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Our dear Smt.Mythiliji,
That's how our society moves around and never change ...
There are umpteen number of Ramu's in this universe who toil and there are many so called elites in society disrespects the values.
A classic example of Rich & Poor highlighted in your blog so well to reach the readers mind.
The way we come across such incidents in which we are forced to witness as mute spectators and such Ramu's dwell for their daily bread with such abuses and comments.
It's why our elders say, bring up the kids with good manners & character and all it starts at home.
Thanks for the nice motivating blog on how the society behaves and how it is being tollerated.
Subbu
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Hello dear Mythili,
reading your blog i too had my eyes misted @ Ramu.
I would have my palms itching to slap the not so little MR .rich boy for his behaviour . Am sure i would have loudly voiced my opinion , cant help it , am made that way , my daughter always tells me.......... " ma , control " when she sees me getting all hot and bothered @ someone doing injustice .
So many little kids like him get lost in the crowd, i always wonder if they grow up to be sullen , angry young , old men. or is it like the saying goes .......... KHO na jaye Kahii ye Tare Zameen pe ......
really love the way you write :)
if sulekha would allow i would add you over and over as my favourite blogger
warm regards. would really love to meet you some day .
vee.
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A sad incident, the spoon fed boy will never grow up but the boy working there has already grown up.
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