"Na! 1 plate masala puri". I am a regular weekend customer to that shop. Past 2 weeks i was not able to go there. So i decided "This is it. I am eating a masala & pani puri today". To my disappointment, pani puri was over. I was the only one to order a plate at that time. So he starts a conversation with me. "Ennaga ! Amma vandhu aatchi innum mosama pochu! Daily current cut panra time a paarunga ! night 11 to 12 . Manushan nimmadhiya thoongara time nga adhu..Ennadhan panrangaloe.. " . He has to wake up daily @5 am to go to market to buy mushrooms. "Oh! you buy mushroom daily." I questioned. " Amanga! daily 5 o clock poi vaanguvaen! it is bought daily for fresh. We wont carry previous night mushrooms".
"Naan 12 o clock than thoongaraen. Oruthan verum 4 hours thoongina enna agum. Daily 10 hours i am standing. Its just @11 i go to bed fully exhausted. Now they are cutting current from 11 to 12 ! What the hell". Thoughts of software job vs pani puri runs through my mind. We also sleep the same 4 -6 hours. We earn 10 times more . and we sit (unlike stand) 10 hours a day.
Now I start pitying him, thinking about his tough life , in which his earning will just be from hand to mouth.
Last week he had gone to his hometown. He had went to get his free house sanctioned by the state government. WHAT ???? Free house . Thatha oda work a Amma continue panraangala.
"No Sir!! it was completed long back" . Even then it was surprising for me, the state government completing the "Free house scheme". On hearing that , i said "Thank God!! Metro rail will move forward now ". Free house!! My pity still more increases. I was thinking only poorest of all get those houses first.
He continues " Naan oorla vivasayam panraenga... Kizhangu vivasayam! Maida vivasayam! One time harvest panna i will get around 5 lakhs." Isnt 5 lakhs more than enough for a family to sustain.?? Of course i havent done any maths like investment or number of months for the harvest.
"Na! Neenga oorlayae poi vivasayam pannalam la. Inga en ivvalavu kasta padreenga??" prompt came my question."Sir! Indha vayasula sambadhikkama vera eppo sambadhikka mudiyum. Ippo kasta patta thane future la nalla irukka mudiyum. Appo thane ! En pasangala nalla padikka vekka mudiyum!"
That moment all my pity went out. Instead of pitying, i have started to look up to him.
He is managing two huge burden (pani puri & farming) at the sametime. Apart from this , he would be having his family to support. And he does those work with enthusiasm and doesnt complain.
Well, if he can manage many work at the sametime and do parallel processing, and do it day in and day out and yet not complain..WHY CANT WE???
Atlast, for this conversation.. i got 1/2 plate pani puri extra :D :D
Gymbody starts his bike.. full of happiness, raises the accelerator.... looks at his "Giants" watch 9.15 P.M it was ...
Sambar rice with potato chips ..here i come...Vroooom...................
