IDHAR UDHAR KI BAAT 114- BEGGAR'S WISDOM. Brig PS Gothra ( Retd )

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I handed over a plate of samosa to the old beggar and sat next to him on the steps of a shop near a Gurudwara to have my samosa. I had seen that longing or greed in his eyes while I was buying it for myself. We ate in silence. I was relishing the snack after ten kilometres of walk. 

I no longer wear the presence of being a 'bada admi' after my sixtieth birthday so I love to mingle with the crowd. 

As we finished I could see a well dressed man alighting from a jazzy chauffeur driven car. He took a selfie with Gurudwara in the background and started walking. I told the beggar, "He is your man. Hurry up."

With least amount of concern he said, "he is not going to give anything."

I asked, "Why?"

"People who take selfie here are highly selfish. So no waste of time."

I wondered, beggars also don't waste time. 

By then an old couple came  to their Alto car parked. The man shot a couple of expelatives in thin air on seeing a flat rear tyre. Making his wife sit in the car he took off to fetch a puncture mechanic. 

Then I straightened my back to see a blonde gory approaching us. She dropped a  coin looked at me with a dilemma written on her forehead and moved on. I thanked my spectacles for preventing my beggarly looks. As she moved out of the hearing distance I said, "Aaj kal gore bhi Gurudware aane lage hain?"

"She is a Sardarni," pointed out the beggar.

"You know her from before?"

"No. Can't you see the poly bag she is carrying? It's got freshly cut 'sarson ka saag' in it."

This time I could see the saag and the bag.

My attention was diverted by a screeching sound of an extra large SUV which almost hit a scooter wala in order to occupy a vacant parking spot. 

The couple inside didn't alight for two minutes and we could see them talking through the wind shield. 

The beggar said, "ladai shuru ho gai hai (The couple is fighting)."

"How do you know I asked?"

"Just watch."

I saw the lady step down. She banged the door shut. It was a confirmation to what the beggar said. But then she opened the rear door and shut it with bigger force. As if that was not enough. She moved and opened the boot. Lifted the door and shut it with earth shaking force. She put the scarf over her head and moved towards the Gurudwara without waiting for the male occupant who after a few seconds sheepishly got down and followed her at a distance.


The Alto man was back without the mechanic. The couple settled in their car and the lady offered him a bottle of water. 


I could see the beggar smiling from the corner of my eyes. I asked, "Why are you smiling?"

 He said, "this enforces my conviction."

"And what is that?" I asked.

"Wife's anger is directly proportional to the size of the husband's car. 

I thought it was prudent to leave the man's company. As I got up to walk he said, "What is the size of your car?"

Without answering I moved on cursing my sons who while I was planning to buy the car said, "Papa choti gadi se macho nahi banta."

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