“Mam, aapne zyada paise de diye”. He was 56 years, medium height, thin and wheatish in complexion. I just turned back and looked at him with a smile, took money from his hands, and went away. After walking a few steps, I don’t know what resisted me to stop and talk to that man. Maybe the respect he showed towards me and the politeness with which he behaved. I went back and stood there. He again smiled at me. But before he could ask anything, I put forward my question to him saying that “Uncle, can I ask you a question?” With which he replied, “Yes, young lady you can please ask”. And that was the moment I was awestruck as he spoke this sentence in English. I had never seen a hawker speaking so fluent English in my entire life. My eyes shone with amazement and I couldn’t stop my smile to come forward. And then I kept on asking him about how he came here, what does he do, who he is. It was because in a part of my mind, there was chaos and it said that there is something great behind this.
So, he continued telling about him. He told me that he worked as a professor in a college in Bhopal where he taught mathematics to students. He was selling custard, juice, and shakes there as it was summertime and college was closed due to summer holiday. He told me that he was just sitting idly one day when this idea stuck in his mind that he can make use of his wife’s culinary skills and keep himself busy out of which he can also earn a few pennies. I was shocked to see such a highly educated person working as a part-time hawker. It was his politeness, management skills, and zeal to work that brought him here. Any layman who comes to know about this might not appreciate but it was so good on his part that he filled me with inspiration.
We kept on talking for another few minutes and I could easily sense his knowledge and thought process. Being such an old man and working as a reputed professional, he chose to do this just to enjoy the flavors of life without even caring for what others think. His story made me realize that no work is big or small. Every piece of work done honestly is great in life. We do not realize the importance of time but nothing is more precious than that. We only realize once it is lost. When he narrated his story, every bit of it was making me surprised to the maximum extent. I could sense the goosebumps that hit me. Before walking away, I saluted the man and appreciated his effort to come forward for this work and inspire people like me. I also saw that he was immensely joyful to have found someone who can listen to him. The amount of peace and satisfaction on his face while talking to me was something that will never leave my mind. That day and till today whenever I feel low in life, I just remember his face and his respect towards his work.
It is rightly said that “There is no need to be perfect to inspire others”