First time I saw her near the Park street junction. From her
looks, it was quite obvious that she was a poor lady from some village. A kid,
of perhaps three or four years, on her lap – he was crying. She told me
something. I went closer and she had a very disturbing story. She came to the
city for the treatment of her child but someone stole all her money. Cannot
even go back to her village – forget about purchasing any food for the kid.
I was on my way to college – not much cash with me. Still I
tried to help her to my capacity. I was angry on the person who stole her
money.
I met her again after six months near the medical college.
She could not recognize me. She called me this time too. And then narrated the
same story! I was angry again – this time on this lady – how could she be so
careless second time?
Later, my cousin told me that this lady and her story is a
regular feature in the streets of Calcutta. I was extremely angry – this time
on my foolishness. She cheated me emotionally.
Fast forward twenty years. I had a kid of my own by then. I
was laid off from the mill I had been working with. All my savings were gone.
That day, we did not have any food and my daughter was crying in hunger. That
lady came to my mind. May be she was in a similar situation. I was angry for
the fourth time. Why should a kid suffer from hunger?