By Ashwin Govindraj
God! Why are you doing this to me? Why am I
the only one who has to suffer, when everyone else is enjoying life and getting
things done so easily? This was another one of my frequent complaints. The
time was 10pm and I was the last person to leave office. The security guard was
fast asleep with songs from ‘Hum aapke hain kaun’ playing in the
background. Mumbling and grumbling I left office and sped away to the railway
station lest I miss the last train. As I was entering the station a train was
fast approaching and I scrambled to catch the train.
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| Photo credit - Chakradhar Nemani |
Aboard the train I was in a pensive mood
and was angry with my manager and with everyone from my office. Plugging in my
earphones was the most soothing sensation and I felt a sense of calm gradually.
That was when I took a look around and noticed some of my co-passengers on the
train. Most of them were middle aged men and a few old people as well. Some of
them did not have slippers to wear and were without proper clothes. One
gentleman had a basket of cotton candy in one hand and his two year old
daughter in the other hand. He seemed quite content and was playing with his
daughter. That was when it dawned upon me, was I right in thinking I was the
one who was suffering? Here was a person who had to go through the hardships of
life in the searing heat selling cotton candy to support his family.
There are way too many people in our
country who have to slog it out day in and day out just to feed their families.
A majority of our population barely manage to make ends meet and every day is a
struggle for survival. In spite of having many problems and financial burden,
people can still appreciate the small things in life and take each day as it
comes.
Do you have a place to stay? Food to eat? Water
to drink? A place for sanitation? These are what we’d like to consider basic
amenities. What must become of those who consider these luxuries. In spite of having the best of many
things, we still complain and want more. We should be thankful for what we’ve
got and help other people as well instead of moaning. This is easier said than
done, but there is no harm in trying. So the next time you think of cursing or
shooting off a complaint to god, think again, you are ‘PRIVILEGED’!
