One Moment

14th August 2010, Delhi

"God I hate this world" he thought.

He was driving his old santro home after dropping his aunt to her home at a nearby sector.

While driving he was thinking about the unjustness of his life & the unjustness of the circumstances around his life.

"I earn shitty money. Even though I've been working for a year, I can't even buy that SLR camera I've always wanted to buy. I've to spend 4 hours every day to travel to my workplace & even there sometimes I've to work on shitty work like government tenders. I mean, I graduated in one of the worst recession years due to which I am earning less than my juniors. I am a virgin now for over 24 years. Girls shy away from me as if I am some kind of a contagious disease. I mean seriously can my life get any worse? Will I ever find a girl in my life?"

It was while thinking these thoughts when he took that right turn

And the world slowed down for him.

It was a surreal moment, right out of a typical hindi movie.

It was in this moment that he saw her.

Small raindrops clung to her face and her hair, She looked like an angel who has come on earth to help people.

A Small frown marred her forehead as she concentrated on the task in front of her.

She was trying to cross the road. A most determined expression on her face, Her face taut with responsibility.

Two children clung to her. One almost 2 years old, clung to her like a baby kangaroo clings to her mother. The other almost 4 years old held onto her hand like a frightened lamb.

She was not more than 6 years old.

Her hair matted into knots she looked as if she was going to the nearby mandir where she could get some food for her brother, sister and herself.

He passed her in his car and in his rearview mirror saw her cross the road with such a joy, just for being a little closer to food for that day, a joy the likes of which he had not felt for a lot of time.

The moment passed

And he drove on

And he just drove on