Break Or Make - Il

#2 (continued)
Today, his shoes are squeaky clean. All I can think of is the lucky person who probably got the generous money from him for polishing his shoes. More negative thoughts strike me. Did he find someone who can polish his shoes better than I can? Have I lost my best source of income? Will I get to thank him for what he has done for me before he leaves me?

He kneels in front of my seat and looks me in the eye. "What's your name?" he asks with a small smile on his face. "Amira," I answer, slightly taken aback by the question. "Where are your parents?" I answer almost without any hint of remorse or sadness, "They are dead. I don't have any memories of them." I pull out the cleanest cloth in my stack and spread it in front of me for him to sit on. He settles down cross-legged in front of me and resumes questioning me. "Since when have you been doing this?" "I started out as a rag-picker. Then, I helped out a little by selling newspapers. I used the money I earned to buy the required materials for this shoe-polishing shop. Now, I am my own master. I don't need to beg for money anymore."

"Have you ever thought of going to school?" "Ahh, that is like wishing on a shooting star, which I most definitely can't afford to since one can't see any stars from this part of the city, let alone seeing a shooting one," I answer wryly. His face breaks into a full smile as he stretches a hand towards me and says, "My name is Aakash Mehra. I work in a nearby corporate firm. I have met quite a few young people like you, and I want to do something for you guys. I want to start with getting admissions in schools for you all. Tell me one thing, how much money do you have right now in your cash box?" I shake his hand warily and hesitantly answer, "A total of 1345 rupees." "You are really good at saving money then. I don't think there's much that they can teach you at the school", and having said this, he stands up, dusts himself a bit and retrieves a card from his pocket, which he stuffs in my hand. "The number behind this is my personal phone number. You can call me on Saturdays and Sundays. Make up your mind about the school and call me back at the earliest. I am ready to listen to your conditions as well."

He gives me one last look and starts walking off, leaving me with a brighter ray of hope than I have ever held on to, in all my life.

"ONE BROKE HER. ANOTHER MADE HER"
***

Every day, we wake up to the news of heinous atrocities that humankind has yet again perpetrated against itself. A new face, a new story, a different approach, but the same old ending. If man doesn’t learn to tire of his mistakes and crimes, if the tirades of people who couldn’t have cared less don’t cease any time soon, if man continues to live in denial, there is only so much that a handful of people who want to make a change, who want to be the change, can do.

But before we set out to make changes in this world, the one thing that we have to realise first is the power that we have over the lives of others. I am not talking of complete control, the kind that robs the other of freedom. I am talking of the kind where you become the nourisher and the other a plant that you help to grow into a strong tree. We must understand the full extent of our power and how we may also end up destroying another life, if our power is not leashed properly.

Serve the purpose that mankind was made for, and serve it well. Let every sweet, innocent butterfly that flutters by you borrow a little of your radiance, and you will have coloured the world in brighter hues. Let every flower that lines your path pick up a little of your fragrance, and you will have made the world a happier place to be in.