Reality Bites!!
The week ahead was a special one for my family and me. Years after, we have invited all our relatives for a get-together. I still remember, it was a freezing day in December, and I was tasked with organizing the culinary details for the special occasion of the year. I took my venerable Bajaj Chetak, driving my way to the Secunderabad Mandi (Market) to buy vegetables. The cold breeze gently toyed with my ears, compelling me to wrap a muffler around. I packed myself in a jerkin, hand gloves, and driving glasses to protect my vision. It was a cool drive through Habsiguda, reaching the newfound flyover at Tarnaka. However, I decided not to take the flyover, as the breeze would be at its chilliest at the top. I was off on the regular track, neglecting a beautiful creation of God crossing my path.
A mile ahead, I felt as if something was haunting me, and soon I realized it was my thoughts about the creation that crossed my way. I could recollect that it was a cute little puppy limping its way across the early morning traffic. Unable to withstand, I turned back to the vicinity of the scene. My feelings multiplied wildly, and I felt bad for the poor creature with its lame walk. My eyes spotted an old man (beggar), half-alive in the corner of the bus stop, covered in a blanket, enjoying a nap with someone in his lap. "Eyes wide open," I had a glimpse at the spectacle of my life! To my astonishment, the man in the corner was a leper nurturing the puppy, securing a cloth around its injured leg. Tears rolled down my cheeks, silently greeting the kind act of humanity. With a shrunken heart, I was off to finish my job.
Thereafter, I made up my mind to regularly stop at the bus stop and offer him a rupee or two. To my great relief, one day, the little puppy was back to its strength and was playing in the bruised hands of its master. Innocent about the pain the master was suffering from, the little puppy was entertaining the master with all its life. It was jumping and running around him, staging its life's best acts to sustain the smile on the master's face. The scene was so heartening that everyone at the place thought of them as buddies. Such was the bond between them. Though a destitute, he was sharing everything of his life—feelings, a piece of bread, and the "worn-out—see-through" blanket. I was delighted with their act, and my eyes sparkled with happiness. At that moment, I could not understand why we people are fighting each other in this envious world. I hope someone learns from their kinship, which is all about sharing, exchanging thoughts, feelings, and oneness in the struggle for existence.
Finally, it was party time, and in the evening, everyone was enjoying the relishing dishes served to their tastes. Exchanging one-liners with one another, all of them were filling the air with delighted smiles. But I was off my mood, and none were aware of my preoccupied mind. Deeply drowned in sorrow, I was lifeless with the blood still burning red hot. No one exactly knows what happened to me. The question still haunts me—is it an Act of Humanity? No one knows what exactly happened.
That morning, while I was on my usual way to the bus stop at Tarnaka to offer a rupee to the beggar, I reached a huge gathering at the place, and my senses grew severe. I was one among them watching the acts of the little puppy trying to wake its master, who had reserved his berth for a long sleep. Everyone felt pity for the beggar and the puppy, but no one extended a helping hand for the final rituals. After several "effortless efforts," the poor little thing was tired and found its place inside the blanket, never to come back to life, following its master to the heavens above. I took to the nearest public telephone and informed the authorities of the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad, who were at the place in a jiffy and carted the bodies in a municipal van, leaving all heads bent down in guilt. My inner soul was in hue and cry, pinning me on my act, questioning time and again—what have you done—is it an Act of Humanity?
At that moment, I could not understand why we people are fighting each other in this envious world. I hope someone learns from their kinship, which is all about sharing, exchanging thoughts, feelings, and oneness in the struggle for existence.
So, friends, please let me know—am I guilty and inhuman? I hope their souls rest in peace in the heavenly world.
Shankar Anappindi
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy-Reasons]
HR Executive
KARVY Group
The week ahead was a special one for my family and me. Years after, we have invited all our relatives for a get-together. I still remember, it was a freezing day in December, and I was tasked with organizing the culinary details for the special occasion of the year. I took my venerable Bajaj Chetak, driving my way to the Secunderabad Mandi (Market) to buy vegetables. The cold breeze gently toyed with my ears, compelling me to wrap a muffler around. I packed myself in a jerkin, hand gloves, and driving glasses to protect my vision. It was a cool drive through Habsiguda, reaching the newfound flyover at Tarnaka. However, I decided not to take the flyover, as the breeze would be at its chilliest at the top. I was off on the regular track, neglecting a beautiful creation of God crossing my path.
A mile ahead, I felt as if something was haunting me, and soon I realized it was my thoughts about the creation that crossed my way. I could recollect that it was a cute little puppy limping its way across the early morning traffic. Unable to withstand, I turned back to the vicinity of the scene. My feelings multiplied wildly, and I felt bad for the poor creature with its lame walk. My eyes spotted an old man (beggar), half-alive in the corner of the bus stop, covered in a blanket, enjoying a nap with someone in his lap. "Eyes wide open," I had a glimpse at the spectacle of my life! To my astonishment, the man in the corner was a leper nurturing the puppy, securing a cloth around its injured leg. Tears rolled down my cheeks, silently greeting the kind act of humanity. With a shrunken heart, I was off to finish my job.
Thereafter, I made up my mind to regularly stop at the bus stop and offer him a rupee or two. To my great relief, one day, the little puppy was back to its strength and was playing in the bruised hands of its master. Innocent about the pain the master was suffering from, the little puppy was entertaining the master with all its life. It was jumping and running around him, staging its life's best acts to sustain the smile on the master's face. The scene was so heartening that everyone at the place thought of them as buddies. Such was the bond between them. Though a destitute, he was sharing everything of his life—feelings, a piece of bread, and the "worn-out—see-through" blanket. I was delighted with their act, and my eyes sparkled with happiness. At that moment, I could not understand why we people are fighting each other in this envious world. I hope someone learns from their kinship, which is all about sharing, exchanging thoughts, feelings, and oneness in the struggle for existence.
Finally, it was party time, and in the evening, everyone was enjoying the relishing dishes served to their tastes. Exchanging one-liners with one another, all of them were filling the air with delighted smiles. But I was off my mood, and none were aware of my preoccupied mind. Deeply drowned in sorrow, I was lifeless with the blood still burning red hot. No one exactly knows what happened to me. The question still haunts me—is it an Act of Humanity? No one knows what exactly happened.
That morning, while I was on my usual way to the bus stop at Tarnaka to offer a rupee to the beggar, I reached a huge gathering at the place, and my senses grew severe. I was one among them watching the acts of the little puppy trying to wake its master, who had reserved his berth for a long sleep. Everyone felt pity for the beggar and the puppy, but no one extended a helping hand for the final rituals. After several "effortless efforts," the poor little thing was tired and found its place inside the blanket, never to come back to life, following its master to the heavens above. I took to the nearest public telephone and informed the authorities of the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad, who were at the place in a jiffy and carted the bodies in a municipal van, leaving all heads bent down in guilt. My inner soul was in hue and cry, pinning me on my act, questioning time and again—what have you done—is it an Act of Humanity?
At that moment, I could not understand why we people are fighting each other in this envious world. I hope someone learns from their kinship, which is all about sharing, exchanging thoughts, feelings, and oneness in the struggle for existence.
So, friends, please let me know—am I guilty and inhuman? I hope their souls rest in peace in the heavenly world.
Shankar Anappindi
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy-Reasons]
HR Executive
KARVY Group