14/07/2011

                              The old man and the weighing machine 


Quite an unusual title and probably a tricky connection.Should be coz it made a lazy girl like me wake up from the bed at midnight(its 12 30am now) n grab hold of her notebook..
I don't know whats making me do so.But this old man,the person am talking about  has gripped my thoughts even at the dead of the night. He is none other than the person i have been confronting for the last 12 days on my way to the training.

Whats so special about him?Nothing at all.Plain shabby clothes ,wrinkled face,tattered bag(yet stuffed) and yes the weighing machine...
At an age where he should have enjoyed a cool drink,rocking to the tune of his armchair surrounded by babbling kids(grandchildren),he is here under the scorching sun,with a worn out black umbrella,to protect his half dead skin,expectantly waiting for skinny and plump customers who are conscious about the hyped thing called weight.


I could feel the thirst of his eyes,the pain of sitting by the footpath the whole day long to earn a 2rupees for each weight the machine measured.That was so tragic...a 2 rupees!!That meant a total of 50 customers would fetch him a mere 100!!Did he even reach that jubiliant stage,I wonder..


 I couldn't pity him coz he was not a beggar.he was earning his own bread and heaven knows maybe even his family's,I guess,or who else could have retired to such a harsh work in the sun with a load of a weighing machine with only a crutch to support the dropping weak body.His poor appearance reflected through his stuffs too-the cigarette lighters,the atm holders,all failed to attract the passersby and remained  there displayed throughout the day, only to be packed in the evening and taken back.I could hardly see his dark big lips open for a smile.


But i was fortunate...yes I was..coz I saw him smile at me when I weighed the bones in me..49.5kgs  he uttered to me.. I gave him the 2 rupees he deserved....n in the 12 days of my training at maligaon,I weighed myself 3 times only to see that smile on his face and the....49.5kgs.....:)