THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

It’s been three days that I finally decided to break the monotony of my unsocial existence and go out in the evenings to have a stroll in the neighborhood park. My five year old cousin tags along rather I tag along with her and there is a picture perfect scene or a picture perfect movie going on in the park. Pretty housewives belonging to business families and top notch executives who get tired by all the maid bashing, noon soaps and the kitty parties are a regular visitor to these parks. They do not come alone, because along with them comes a whole parade of accessories like a pram for kids who can very well run , a pair of maids, one for the baby and one for the momma and other brick-a-bracs. The attire of these lovely homemakers is also worth mentioning. Draped in the very latest Indian ethnic wear and adidas sneakers, they are worth a look as they trot up and down in order to relieve themselves of the extra flab that has been accumulated due to their HECTIC lifestyles. The story doesn’t end here because it’s after the half and hour of gossips and mom-in-laws discussion and of course exercising too, they decide to call it a day and move back to their abodes. The scene outside the park is completely revamped as if someone painted a different picture by some magic wand. There are slums nearby and women gather from these slums to sell roasted corns and men as ice-cream vendors. Now, it was yesterday that I decided to have that corn delight and went to the lady seller. She looked young but her facial expressions defied all signs of young age. A very-typical young mother, cool and hip was also there, haggling with the lady seller over the prices of the corns and was asking her to reduce the price. This lady had just won the battle and managed to get five corns for rupees 15 instead of rupees 20 and was sporting a smile as if she had just presided over the merger of Google and Microsoft when her cell rang. Very smartly she took out the chic N 95 (( I bet my life she didn’t know how to operate that little luxury , and was aware of receiving and dialing numbers)) from the little handbag which her maid was carrying and son started to chat incessantly about the prospective locations to host their next kitty. I looked at the seller, she was no older than this chic but her stature told a different story. Sunken eyes, sun burnt hands and a frail figure, her face looked as if she hadn’t smiled for ages. A small child rolled in mud was sitting on a rag nearby, disheveled hair and snotty nose was crying nearby and an older girl was trying to console him and was looking at the child in pram playing with some expensive toy and sprouting a brand, but the most horrifying part was the look of her eyes, blank as ever, as if she had not given a chance to words like hope, miracles or equality. Anyhow, the time came for shelling out the Rs 15; the lady pulled out two 500 buck notes and grunted. After much searching and rummaging her handbag, she managed to get Rs 50 out. She looked at me and asked if I had some change, paid the money and went way. The lady seller took out a broken tin container, shoved the money inside. During this entire episode all I was thinking, did that lady gained anything by paying 5 bucks less to that needy woman?? Or rather was she loosing anything by paying? Unfortunately this scenario is neither unique nor uncommon. This is our reaction to the people who are not so blessed , and is happening in every metro, town and city of the world and India. And if you think corporate India is spared. Then you are mistaken. Wait for the second part to see how??