| Last weekend, while five of us were returning home | | | | my purse and handed him the money. We stood |
| from a lovely weekend trip, my friend and I wanted | | | | there, looking at each other a very long moment. His |
| to look at some plant holders and knick-knacks made | | | | eyes spoke. Surprise, appreciation, compassion. |
| of clay. Near the Mumbai Naka at Nasik, the driver led | | | | He didn't take the money, quickly re-calculated and |
| us to a large make-shift shop on the road side. A | | | | asked for a lesser amount. He let me know that he |
| few nice Tulsi plant holders of various sizes and | | | | did not charge me for a couple of items - those |
| shapes, little trinklets and diyas at the entrance were | | | | were his gifts for me! That afternoon, we were |
| interesting enough for us to step inside on that | | | | present to wisdom, maturity, an allowing space, deep |
| unusually hot afternoon. | | | | listening, heart, quick action, appreciation, kindness, |
| The large cloth tent, the space perhaps twice the | | | | giving, compassion...magical, moment by moment |
| size of my little home in Mumbai, protected all the | | | | experience. |
| items in the shop from the wind, sun and everything | | | | I wondered if a school education would have |
| else. Interesting utility and home-decor pieces made | | | | provided, or even allowed him that kind of wisdom. |
| of clay heaped all around and yet, neatly placed such | | | | He was in my consciousness for the rest of the |
| that one gets a good look at everything. | | | | journey back home. Is there something we could do |
| A thin, young boy perhaps not more than 12-13 | | | | to support his interest in getting a formal education? |
| years of age, walked around us; non-intrusive and | | | | We may have to counsel his family... Who will look |
| yet, available; a gentle, soft presence. A few feet | | | | after the shop? |
| away sat a lady with an infant asleep on her lap, a | | | | What is his story so far? How will his journey unfold? |
| 3-4 year old standing near her, and another little one | | | | What shape will his life take? Who will help shape |
| crying aloud for her attention from a tin-shed, which | | | | that story? |
| was perhaps their home. She sat there, disinterested | | | | I reflected about my own life. A journey that can be |
| and disengaged. Lost and unavailable. | | | | summarized in a few words as self-supporting, |
| My friend and I hopped around, excited to find little | | | | responsibilities, care-giving, Grace...long, difficult |
| treasures to adorn our homes - and were surprised | | | | journey but a fantastic one, nonetheless. Fantastic, |
| to learn that they were very, very affordable. | | | | because life has unfolded far beyond my wildest |
| Images of friends whom I could gift some of these, | | | | dreams...flowing through unknown paths. |
| flashed through my head and I thought, "Oh, I wish I | | | | Several people played their parts in the journey - I |
| had carried some more money..." My friend inquired | | | | received all the nurturing I needed, at times when I |
| where all these wonderful stuff came from. With | | | | needed it the most, from various sources. It |
| pride in his posture and joy in his eyes, he happily | | | | continues to be so. Like tending a plant in its growth... |
| rattled off names of far off cities and their journey | | | | Like the shaping of a mud-pot... Looking back, how |
| to his shop. And I wondered about the journey of his | | | | did that happen? Amazing Grace?! |
| life... | | | | Everyone just appeared from nowhere, followed |
| While he was neatly packing each item in | | | | their hearts and went along, having played their part; |
| newspapers, my friend, who works for Child | | | | they did what they did and I did what I did. |
| Protection Rights at UNICEF, muttered under her | | | | My friend, sensing my quiet pre-occupation and |
| breath, "This is child labor". She inquired about his | | | | seeing the range of feelings passing through my face |
| interest in getting a school education. Waving a hand | | | | said, " Jas, what would you have done if you were in |
| around he said, "I did study for a while.. I am | | | | my situation? We are working so hard as an |
| interested. But then..." That wave of the hand said it | | | | organization to create a transformation in this area; |
| all. | | | | and we are doing a lot. But you have no idea how |
| His life. His family was under his care; His | | | | many systems and complex situations we have to |
| responsibility; To feed them; To look after them. | | | | work with to make this happen. It is very frustrating |
| What will happen to the shop if he were to go | | | | to see how little we achieve at the end of the day..." |
| pursue formal education? Where will he find the | | | | Is it really that difficult? Supporting the shaping of |
| money to cover the cost? | | | | one life. ONE life... One life by one person...one life by |
| He quietly calculated the price of each item. Doing the | | | | ten...by twenty? |
| math in his head, he told me the figure. I was not | | | | Is it really that difficult? |
| interested in bargaining a better deal. I reached into | | | | |