A Common Man's Tale of Hope and Happiness

It was 19 November and I have aged gracefully yet another year. I used to love the attention, love, pampering and the 'birthday girl' tag until last year. This year, however, things have changed for reasons more than one. I decided to switch over from the pomp to some 'good deed'. This, I thought would help myself, more than anything else. With a dilated heart and tower-tall hopes, I headed towards an Old Age Home. I was stopped at the entrance outright. It was a man in the shabbiest of clothes and dusty hair and falconish keen eyes wanted me to buy some incense sticks. The amazing thing that made me look twice at him was his pacifying, soothing, satisfactory smile. I wondered where he got that gem from.

ME: How much do you want? (I thought he wanted some money).

PS: Rupees 4.50p. (in a refined, unlikely, accent)
I gave him a ten rupee note and gestured him to keep the change. He sternly returned the change.

PS: I sell things not my image. I am not a beggar. I work and earn and live my life.

ME: Sorry. What is your name?

PS: Parimal. Parimal Sanpui (the boldness in his voice was magnetic)

ME: How much do you earn a day?

PS: 20-30 rupees. I work day in and day out and is very happy to live within my means and save a little for my friends.

ME: That's very good. You at least have some good friends.

PS: I have many with whom I spend my evenings doing prayers. We all gather down the tree near the Kali temple and pray till we feel it's all right.

ME: Whom do you pray for? Your families?

PS: Yes, we pray for our families. We pray for the world. We chant hyms and pray for the well being.

At this point, I was so baffled that I was groping for words! A shiver went down my spine and his complacent face bonded me firm with his warm thoughts. Suddenly I saw a halo around his dusty unsettled hair. I was still struggling! He went on.

PS: This Parimal Sanpui prays for everyone and anyone and he knows for sure that the world is not so bleak. Living is what matters the most. Are we living at all?

ME: I guess, no...

PS: Let's live life instead of groaning and moaning. God bless all.

I couldn't even thank him for all his wishes. My visit to the old home had ended there, that day. With such thoughts and a substantial living, no wonder he looked so happy.