It’s chilling January. Standing in the balcony of my
friend’s apartment, stuffing my hands in the pocket of my over-coat, I notice a
tiny house.
I watch four children of different age frolicking
around. A young married woman is washing clothes in the open bathroom (Situated outside the house). Two
teenage girls are sitting together, playing with a baby who is gurgling amidst
the lot of old ragged clothes while their mother is making chapattis on a
smoking hearth situated outside the house.
As the mother finishes making two chapattis, children
encircle her, and they all take small bites of chapatti (With some chutney) from a common plate.
An elderly man is sitting on a chair with a grim
expression, watching them. My friend says he is the guard of the newly
constructed apartment nearby. I am utterly shocked when my friend says that the
elderly couple sleeps in the parking area as they all don’t fit in that tiny
house.
I can’t help thinking about them. I wonder how different their
lives could be if the elderly couple had produced just two or maybe three
children?
At this point of time, I recall those unsolicited advices of our
so-called Indian saints to produce four or five children. They all belong to
some popular political parties. Haven’t they seen a different realistic face of India
where measly income tries to feed several empty stomachs and cannot fit them in
a tiny house? Strange! I suggest them to think about basic problems first.
Even though they are saints, they need to learn the gist
of life and survival and several people, in this so-called modern era, badly
needs to be taught about population control.
Four is a huge number to feed, sadly how would they know. Suggesting it from their cosy places and with their hands full.
ReplyDeleteYou're right!
DeleteVery nice point you have brought here and those politicians are no " saints". The real meaning of saint is lost somewhere.
ReplyDeleteTrue!
DeleteThank you!:)