Mirch Bajji

After the office hours, I along with my colleagues stop at a Chai dukaan near Panjagutta, Hyderabad (you get awesome chai here for Rs.4/-).

Last week, as a part of our routine, we stopped at the Chai dukaan and were enjoying the Chai. A little girl (approximately 7-8 years old) was begging there and she came to us. She started singing "Anna rupai ivvu... uncle rupai ivvu" (Brother give me a rupee... Uncle give me a rupee). One of my colleagues asked her to go away. Another one said "What does this innocent girl know? It is her parents fault, they send these kids for begging."

The girl listened to those words. I inquired her whether she go to school or not. She did not reply to my question, instead she reacted to the statement of my colleague. She said she knows what we discussed about her parents and she asked us why did we talk like that. I did not have an answer but felt very sad (in fact guilty) for her reaction. She smiled and asked me to give her a rupee.

I generally won't give money to kids. So, I told her that I would purchase her some biscuits. But she was not interested in biscuits, rather she asked me to purchase Mirch Bajji.

I went to the shop which is right beside the tea shop, where Mirch bajji is available and asked for a plate of bajji. The lady in the shop asked me to wait as hot bajji are being made. Then the girl came and said that she would take them to her mom and eat there. I asked the lady to pack them. As soon as the lady realised that the bajji was not for me, but for the kid, she packed the bajjis which were already there. I felt bad for the indifference shown by the lady in the shop, but I did not argue with the lady. I handed over the bajjis to that girl and left the place.

But, on the way home, I thought of the incidence and cursed myself for not arguing with the lady in the shop for the indifference shown towards the girl.

Two days later, the same girl came while we were at the tea shop. I said Hi to her. She did not recognise me but, after reminding her about Mirch Bajji, she recognised and we chatted for almost 10 minutes. I asked her whether she would like to have biscuits, she said that there are loads of biscuits at her home and she also told me that there would be around 40-50 children at the home. She asked me for a rupee. For the first time without any thought I gave her a rupee. She inquired me how much did I give her? I said one rupee. She smiled and I said Bye to her. While I was leaving, she asked me where do I live? I replied to her question and left the place.