Chatty Diva on Life and living
“Thank God every morning when you get up, that you have something to do that day which must be done, whether you like it or not. Being forced to work and forced to do your best will breed in you temperance and self-control, diligence and strength of will, cheerfulness and content, and a hundred virtues which the idle never know. ”
~Charles Kingsley
I am a sucker for the underdog, I may act tough but when confronted with a gap-toothed smile from a tired, old saleswoman, my heart melts like butter and I have this unexplained need to comfort and protect the vulnerable and the needy.
She looked to be around 65-70 years old. It’s so difficult to tell a woman’s age nowadays by just looking at her appearance. While women belonging to the higher income group have mastered the art of aging slowly or not aging at all after a certain age, their counterparts from the lower strata have managed to do the opposite. Their aging process has escalated and they look a decade older than they actually are.
Coming back to my story, I was enjoying the cool blast of the air conditioner in my bedroom on a hot afternoon in Delhi, when the doorbell rang. My dog, Sparky, went ballistic with her barking and I stomped out of my cool haven, into the furnace that the hall felt like, annoyed at the intrusion. I yanked the door open and there she was, standing so apologetically, clad in a synthetic green sari with a black border. A bespectacled, thin, old lady with a couple of packets of snacks in her bony hands.
She inquired politely, hesitatingly, “Madam, do you want to buy these home-made snacks?” Looking at this dignified lady who was not asking for any handouts but was trying to make a living in the twilight years of her life, my heart went out to her and melted in a pool at her tired old feet. My irritation was replaced by admiration for her spark and drive. She told me that she along with her husband made these snacks at home and she was responsible for selling them in the neighborhood.
Old Age, Pride and the Dignity of Labor
Although, we don’t usually eat the kind of snacks she was selling, something compelled me to say, “Please give me two packets.” She had traveled from Mayur Vihar to Noida, by bus on a hot afternoon in the month of May, to make a sale and she was sweating profusely. Her confidence in the eatables she was selling was commendable. She said, “Madam, please taste the snacks before buying them as they are fresh and tasty.” I wanted to buy her entire stock and send her back home to her hardworking and equally old husband.
As she drank the offered glass of cold water, I heard myself speak, “Do come again next week.” She smiled a grateful, relieved smile which transformed her harried, tired face into the most beautiful one in the world. I worried about her selling her bags of goodies the whole day and every time I took a bite of the savory snack I’d bought from her, I felt happy and at peace. I have included these snacks in my list of things to eat because I want to continue buying from her, every time she comes over.
What’s with me and my obsession with good, honest, hardworking, kind old people? It’s all these men and women who should be honored and recognized for their dignity of labor. We need more citizens like these to grow and prosper as a proud and developed nation.
Sulekha a.k.a Lucks
What do you think about work and aging? What lessons have you learned from a stranger?
45 Comments
@Rimly, You’ve made my day by comparing me with Ron! Thanks for the most beautiful compliment.
You have a heart of gold Sulekha somewhat like Ron who goes around helping strangers in the streets.
@Tapas Mukherjee, I am honored to receive such high praise from such a talented and gifted writer like you. Thank you so much…
@Sangita, Thanks for your sweet comment and welcome to chatty divas.
@Vijay, India is really great and we are proud to be part of its rich heritage. Appreciate your lovely compliment.
@Pradeep, thanks for visiting and your compliment.
@Vandana, I enjoyed meeting her and writing about it, welcome and thanks a ton.
@Poonam, welcome to our blog and thanks for your compliment.
@Belina, thanks Belina, our fathers did teach us well. A simple thing like offering a glass of water or a thank you to a stranger does work wonders and makes our hearts feel so light and happy.
Sulekha – I will remember this post because it highlights the joy and ecstasy inherent in giving instead of inevitable gratitude at receiving. Well done, Sulekha.
That’s an effort from the heart….
needs a pure soul to have these thoughts.
That’s a touching food for thought.
Lot of people out there are struggling…..
but then that’s why india is great.
wonderful post….keep writing
Enjoyed reading the article.
very observant thought….keep it up Sulekha.
Absolutely wonderful, Sulekha! As expected from you. My husband has been patronizing an old man for the last two and a half yrs for the same reason- dignity of labor. My father taught me, as a child, to offer a glass of water to anyone who comes home. I have noticed that, especially in the summers, when I offer the auto driver or the postman a glass of water for their parched throats they are refreshed to resume their duties with a smile. A simple ‘Thank you’ to any stranger erases their stress a wee bit which I think we all need to be doing more frequently.
@Charlie Nitric, Sometimes you meet someone and feel like you have known them forever, I felt the same with this kind old lady. Our souls keep interacting in various lifetimes. Maybe I knew her then, thanks for the visit and the comment. Appreciate it a lot…
@Melissa, You are the most giving soul that I have ever come across and such lovely, high praise from you makes my day. Thanks for the beautiful compliments and god bless.
@Sancheeta, Loved your compliment and thank you for visiting our blog.
@Raj, Welcome to Chatty Divas and thank you for such a beautiful compliment, appreciate it a lot.
It touched my heart Sulekha, dignity of labor often goes unnoticed by the power that can bring in regulations to boost their confidence and help them grow. But what you have done is what all of us can also do without the power. You have set an example for us to proceed in the well being of our society.
Loved your post.
Lucks, the beauty of the story is in the way you treat her, it just shows that one should treat others the same way they want themselves to be treated …..I think India has a million examples like this. Many folks forget fundamental human rights which is treat each living being with respect, dignity and love.
@Nikki, welcome to our blog and thanks a ton for the lovely compliment and blessings, wish you the same.
Your words definitely paint a beautiful picture – thank you for sharing such a simple, wonderful, heart warming story. Love, blessings & Light to you always.
@Jessica, She gave me so much more and I am thankful for every blessing which comes my way, thanks for your visit to our blog and your touching compliment.
@Roy,I really did get a whole lot more than I paid for, thank you for the blessings.Angels do come to us in many forms..sometimes we fail to recognize them and it’s our loss.
A beautiful post. I can see so much compassion and love in your heart, it’s inspiring
You provided a beam of light in this woman’s day and gave her hope…touching.
great story and well written. i believe you got more then you payed for. I thank that just maybe you received a visit from an angel and were given a blessing of wisdom. Thank you and God bless
@Tameka, the artwork is Lavina’s baby…I have just written the post
@Tameka, It’s an honor to receive such a beautiful compliment from a brilliant writer like you, even your comments are so poetic :)thanks
@Jim, appreciate your wonderful compliments with humility and hope to live by the values instilled in us by our parents and try and do good onto others.Thanks for your encouragement and support.
@Swati, I am sure you can tell them better than me but are too modest, that’s why you are so special…thanks for the lovely compliment.
@Mari, thank you for the visit to our blog and for writing such beautiful things about it. I live by this principle, “When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That’s my religion.” ~Abraham Lincoln.
@Jessica, It was written from the heart and I wanted to share it with all my wonderful friends,thanks…
@Kriti, It was an enriching and humbling experience, love your comment..thanks Mitr.
@Viki, welcome to my blog and thanks for the lovely compliment.
Hello Sulekha –
It’s very serene to find simple joy in the eyes of another person in need. For many of us, buying a couple bags of snacks may not seem like a big deal. To the old woman that you took time out of your day to share a kind moment with, I believe she thought your gesture was amazing. Nicely written and wonderfully done.
Oh that is one of the most beautiful and realistic stories that has touched me for ages. Charity is something spontaneous and I felt it from your part. The old lady must’ve been very pleased to find such a kind-hearted and generous person in you. But always I praise God for this opportunities to make His love grow within you… i loved it so much Sulekha… and you inspire me to do more… THANK YOU!
I love how you transport someone from their location right to the soul of where you live with your writing! I loved this story and the artwork. You are a dear soul!
Always, I mean always enjoy your writings!
You like many of us see our future or what could be our future..”There by the grace of god” is always in the back of our mind plus it is so great to see a work ethic alive and kicking that I would react much like you!
God bless you Lucks….we need more like you in the world….I have a similar story, but could never tell it with so much feeling and elan….hugs!!
Very moving heartfelt story. How nice of you to give her water and invite her back the following week even though you don’t usually eat that type of snack. More people in this world should be like you!I agree that our elders should be shown respect and caring. I will come visit your site.
Regards, Mari
Mitr,
I loved this piece. Written from the heart.
xoxox
Jessica
What a heartfelt story Mitr – no one but you could enrich us with a story like that. Lovely lovely experience that. God bless!
Nice article with good intentions…need more people like that