I saw her, again, this evening. Around 8 or so, perhaps a quarter past 8 - she was there, in the same place that I had seen her earlier. Which was 2 evenings back. Which was when I actually noticed her for the first time - for all I know, she might have been there even earlier but I noticed her for the first time 2 evenings back.
And then again, yesterday. And today, as well. Three consecutive evenings, more or less at the same time - between 7:30 and 8:30... which, when you think of it, is a coincidence brought on by another - coincidence, I mean - 3 successive days, at that same damn spot (you know, where the road coming from Mankhurd to Ghatkopar meets the Eastern Express Highway) I hit the red light and stopped.
What caught my eye was the fact that the OTHER lady was trying to sell flowers to passers-by. She was (the other lady, I mean) perhaps in her mid 20s looking much older as only poverty can make. Haggard, derelict and dirty. This girl, though, barely 8 or 9 years of age, despite the dirt and dust that coated her face like a pancake, had that look....
she had THAT look which belongs to the street children of Mumbai and ONLY to the street children of Mumbai... it's difficult to describe THAT LOOK but here's a go at it...
it is the look that says "Hey, ain't I pretty?!", or that says "Bindasss rehne ka! Main mast hoon, na?!!" or that says "Kya, bhidu, apunko kya samajh ke rakhela hai?!" - a saucy, happy go lucky, no regrets with life, "today is IT who gives a damn about tomorrow" look... I know, I still haven't got it "just right" but, hey, YOU know what I mean, don't you...
So, THIS little girl, the thing about her was - while the other lady was trying to sell her stock of flowers, this little one was busy gazing at her own reflection in my window glass, preening at herself, totally without any self-consciousness. While the light stayed red, she looked into my glass, at her face, and, even as I was looking at her, she remained totally glued to her own reflection... and suddenly SMILED, a great, BIG, oh-so-happy smile.
Through that glass that smile travelled instantly and I found myself grinning in indescribable joy - and, as the light turned green, I moved on. She remained there while travelling with me in my thoughts and in my smile.
That was 2 days back. Yesterday was another story - or, more truly, a non-event. She was there, somewhere behind my car where I had stopped at the red light again. Luckily (?) the light turned green in seconds and na-da, nothing, zilch...
Today, on a hat-trick of red lights, she (for the first time) made eye contact with me and lifted her tiny arm to show me the flowers that she was selling. A small string of mogras. I slid my window down, not intending to buy anything but just to get a chance to see her smile again. Barely 3 minutes later I was hanging 4 strings of mogra inside my car. "Kitne ka hai?" I heard myself asking. Impishly she smiled and replied "Sab le lo na Uncle, 20 rupya ke liye". "Kitna kum karoge?" "Chalo Uncle, aap ke liye 15 mein" While she counted out the change for the 20/- that I gave her I asked her "Naam kya hai?"
"Reshma" she said and concluded "Kal phir se le lena, OK?" that last bit in stylish English... with a smile, thrown in for free....
I tell you.... I am SO sick and tired of hearing people speak of the "spirit of Mumbai" but when I see the spunk and sheer positivity of Mumbai's street kids I find myself really, truly, believing in that mythical thing.
And then again, yesterday. And today, as well. Three consecutive evenings, more or less at the same time - between 7:30 and 8:30... which, when you think of it, is a coincidence brought on by another - coincidence, I mean - 3 successive days, at that same damn spot (you know, where the road coming from Mankhurd to Ghatkopar meets the Eastern Express Highway) I hit the red light and stopped.
What caught my eye was the fact that the OTHER lady was trying to sell flowers to passers-by. She was (the other lady, I mean) perhaps in her mid 20s looking much older as only poverty can make. Haggard, derelict and dirty. This girl, though, barely 8 or 9 years of age, despite the dirt and dust that coated her face like a pancake, had that look....
she had THAT look which belongs to the street children of Mumbai and ONLY to the street children of Mumbai... it's difficult to describe THAT LOOK but here's a go at it...
it is the look that says "Hey, ain't I pretty?!", or that says "Bindasss rehne ka! Main mast hoon, na?!!" or that says "Kya, bhidu, apunko kya samajh ke rakhela hai?!" - a saucy, happy go lucky, no regrets with life, "today is IT who gives a damn about tomorrow" look... I know, I still haven't got it "just right" but, hey, YOU know what I mean, don't you...
So, THIS little girl, the thing about her was - while the other lady was trying to sell her stock of flowers, this little one was busy gazing at her own reflection in my window glass, preening at herself, totally without any self-consciousness. While the light stayed red, she looked into my glass, at her face, and, even as I was looking at her, she remained totally glued to her own reflection... and suddenly SMILED, a great, BIG, oh-so-happy smile.
Through that glass that smile travelled instantly and I found myself grinning in indescribable joy - and, as the light turned green, I moved on. She remained there while travelling with me in my thoughts and in my smile.
That was 2 days back. Yesterday was another story - or, more truly, a non-event. She was there, somewhere behind my car where I had stopped at the red light again. Luckily (?) the light turned green in seconds and na-da, nothing, zilch...
Today, on a hat-trick of red lights, she (for the first time) made eye contact with me and lifted her tiny arm to show me the flowers that she was selling. A small string of mogras. I slid my window down, not intending to buy anything but just to get a chance to see her smile again. Barely 3 minutes later I was hanging 4 strings of mogra inside my car. "Kitne ka hai?" I heard myself asking. Impishly she smiled and replied "Sab le lo na Uncle, 20 rupya ke liye". "Kitna kum karoge?" "Chalo Uncle, aap ke liye 15 mein" While she counted out the change for the 20/- that I gave her I asked her "Naam kya hai?"
"Reshma" she said and concluded "Kal phir se le lena, OK?" that last bit in stylish English... with a smile, thrown in for free....
I tell you.... I am SO sick and tired of hearing people speak of the "spirit of Mumbai" but when I see the spunk and sheer positivity of Mumbai's street kids I find myself really, truly, believing in that mythical thing.
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