CHOCOLATE

When everyday seems to be the same in life,we neglect small incidents as a forgotten gtalk chat list friend who just comes online.The same happened a couple of weeeks back.

It was a usual boring day at office and i was thinking of ways to escape out and get some air.Somehow at the shed of dawn i made my way out and headed straight to the panwaala gumti outside my office.I dashed at he squeaky counter and asked for a cup of tea and a cigarette.Waiting for the tea to come i placed myself on the rickety bench outside and started lighting the cigarette.

Puffing around i was thinking of some bizarre subject and was staring at the vehciles passing by.But a light rustling sound of wood diverted my attention.I noticed a small kid who was standing just at the other end of the bench.I looked at him with my scanning eyes;he would have been a two or three year old village lad.He was wearing just a tshirt and was barefooted.His hair was an unorganized nest and seeing his condition it was evedient that he would not have bathed for long.There was something attractive in that kid.Maybe it was his big questioning eyes or the way he was playing with his chewing gum.He was squeezing out the chewing gum from his mouth and was placing it on the bench;making a "vroom" sound he was rubbing it hard on the bench then again placing it in his mouth.Somehow he had realized that it was making me uncomfortable;but he carried on doing it with a grin on his face.My inability to converse in Tamil made me put only hand gestures which conveyed "stop doing that".But he never bothered and continued with his work.I still had the cigarette in my hand and it was burning with more conviction as i was staring at the child with scolding eyes.But seeing his response i turned back and  started staring at the road again.

Suddenly he came close to me and started doing the same play around with the chewing gum.With my hand gestures i again tried to convey him that"this is not good";but in the process i didnt realize that my cigarette fell on his foot.He started crying ;I tried to console him but it was not proving helpful.So in order to bribe him i bought few chocolates and a packet of biscuit.I gave these stuff to him and within seconds he disappeared.I didnt realize why he ran away;but it made me happy that the scene got over.I paid the shopkeeper and returned back.

Several days passed and I had forgotten the incident.I used to go to the gumtee time and again but nevr saw that kid there,neither I cared.

One fine usual day at office i came out to complete my quota of tea and cigarette at the gumtee.I went inside the shop asked for tea and cigarette and as usual placed myself on the bench outside.As i was puffing around I saw the same child playing with a puppy on the other side of the road.Somehow he noticed me and i realized he was coming towards me.I was filled with apprehensions that he will again make hue and cry and run away when his motive is fulfilled.He came klose to me and it made me uncomfortable;he uttered something in Tamil which i was unable to understand;the only word which i could understand was CHOCOLATE.I somehow felt that he wanted chocolates.I decided to buy chocolates for him again.SO i went inside bought some chocolates and a packet of biscuit and handed over to him.

He again ran away.But this time he went on the other side of the road.I saw him feeding his puppy the chocolates and biscuit I gave him.

And it made me think "is it the "CHOCOLATE" the "CHEWING GUM" Or the "CIGARETTE" which made me realize a small but imprtant lesson?"

PS:1)We are very judgemental about things and in the process we tend to neglect petty emotions which are not really petty.

2)When I was telling the child not to do the thing he was doing with the chewing gum as it was not good and healthy;I was holding a cigarette in my hand.What an irony.