It has been some time that I'd seen Subbu at the railway level cross after I'd got his admission arranged at the nearby old age home. Since I'd not seen him for a while, I'd surmised that he's happy in his new surroundings and I must admit that I'd not done any follow up visit thus far. So, I was surprised to see him on his old beat this afternoon.
To my query as to why he was back on this demeaning trudge, his sheepish answer was that he was getting thoroughly bored, doing nothing, at the old age shelter! I didn't know as to whether I should get angry with him or shoo him away or forcibly have him sent back to the shelter. I had also begun wondering as to whether my eagerness to put him into a shelter was actually to his liking because my act could be viewed as an infringement on his free will to live the way he liked! Wasn't it a misplaced feeling of philanthropy, on my part, to help the needy!!
As I was required to be back at my office, I gave him my usual tip and he touched my car a number of times as if to tell his God to take care of me. No sooner had I started negotiating my car forward, a young lady on her two wheeler, hailed me to a stop and said, "Sir, it's people like you who spoil these guys. You mustn't do it". She was right and I did tell her so but the words that I stammered subsequently surprised even me, 'You know, I've accepted him as family and hence, this act'. And I really meant it!
She gave me a dazed look and shook her head. Somehow, I get this impression that it's not gonna be the last time that I see her.
To my query as to why he was back on this demeaning trudge, his sheepish answer was that he was getting thoroughly bored, doing nothing, at the old age shelter! I didn't know as to whether I should get angry with him or shoo him away or forcibly have him sent back to the shelter. I had also begun wondering as to whether my eagerness to put him into a shelter was actually to his liking because my act could be viewed as an infringement on his free will to live the way he liked! Wasn't it a misplaced feeling of philanthropy, on my part, to help the needy!!
As I was required to be back at my office, I gave him my usual tip and he touched my car a number of times as if to tell his God to take care of me. No sooner had I started negotiating my car forward, a young lady on her two wheeler, hailed me to a stop and said, "Sir, it's people like you who spoil these guys. You mustn't do it". She was right and I did tell her so but the words that I stammered subsequently surprised even me, 'You know, I've accepted him as family and hence, this act'. And I really meant it!
She gave me a dazed look and shook her head. Somehow, I get this impression that it's not gonna be the last time that I see her.
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