Ridge Walk

I went for a walk in the evening, almost on a mission . As I am preparing for a Himalayan “Ridge” trek, next month. The quotes are important. A ridge trek is different from other treks, in that you walk on a path, narrow raised part of a surface, especially a high edge along a mountain, one formed by the meeting of two faces of a mountain. It’s likened to walking on the edge of a knife.

On my way back, I stopped to pick some stuff from a pharmacy store, I don’t usually go to. But I happen to remember something that I had to buy.

I went in, sweaty, tired, asked the person at the counter for my face wash. And waited till he searched this rare brand. While I waited, I saw three kids, the oldest a girl of about 12, then a boy about 10 and another younger boy about 6 maybe. They had bath mats in their hands. These people sold these mats outside on the street. They were talking in Gujrati, and the two older kids were whispering and counting the money in their hand and negotiating and deciding. Should they keep 5 or 10 rupees, from the 30-50 rupees they seem to be having in their hands. “But what would happen, if they don’t give all the money?”, “maybe we don’t spend 30 but just 20? Or 25”, the girl and the boy were making some important decision, and occasionally glancing at the younger boy, who by now I gather was their youngest brother. And who was not really bothered and was just looking around the store.

I was curious, what were they going to buy? After all these deliberations, I didn’t want to pry, so I stayed at a distance. The boy asked the price of a chocolate, he was told, and reluctant they opened their palm to see they may have to go beyond the 25 rupees. I could see them sighing, looking worried. The younger boy was oblivious.

The older boy caught my eye, I could not look away sooner. He smiled, a little sheepish, I  smiled back, also sheepish.

I got a little bold and stepped closer, the boy looked over his shoulder and whispered to me , that it was Himanshu, the younger brother’s birthday. And they wanted to buy him a chocolate.

My heart went out to these two, who were kids themselves. I asked them to go pick a chocolate. They smiled and all three went to the shelf with chocolates and asked Himanshu to pick, Himanshu put his hand on a large bar, I would have been OK it’s been a while since i bought chocolate for anyone. My son loved Dairy milk silk, but I don’t get to buy it for him since he now lives in a different city.

But his sister quickly admonished him, saying choose a smaller one, I felt a respect well up inside me for her. While she and her brother were helping pick.. the older boy turned and asked, “didi should I pick one for him, or can we also take one?”, the girl glared at him but it was too late. I said Ok. I told all three of them to pick one.

The girl stepped back and politely said, she didn’t want. The effort it must have taken for her to choose respect and not give in to the temptation was showing on her face.  I felt many things then, respect, sad, angry, helpless and even hope. She reminded me of me. And of many “older” siblings who go through this. Growing up long before their time. Taking on responsibility on their yet young shoulders. I was torn between letting her keep her role or for once know it was ok to be a child also. I have had many instances when people have come forth and helped me for no reason. For no gain. I know I believed in the goodness of humanity in those times. And Miracles.  And every now and then, I am grateful to have been given an opportunity to pay it forward, like this day.

I had to be more subtle though. It was a ridge. So I decided we would all, the staff of the pharmacy included, celebrate Himanshu’s birthday. We sang. And I asked the girl to also pick a chocolate. She was now one of the kids. They kept saying thank you. To everyone. They picked a bar each happily. And smiled wide.

The boy said, I have never even held this chocolate bar uptill now.  The girl said, she will share it with her family. And the youngest one, non-chalant, just took it as it was meant to be so. Such innocence. I quickly prayed it lasted longer.  It felt like Christmas and I felt like Santa Claus.

Suddenly the sweltering heat of Mumbai, cooled down as I stepped out.

Feeling grateful to have encountered this moment when we can connect beyond any roles. And see humanity, dignity, innocence still existed, even when there was poverty, unfairness, and war happening.

I have to remind myself , there will be days when everything seems to go south and yet there are moments like these which just help in having some more courage and hope.

This was ridge  walk.