The Unclear World

                

It was a chilly winter,i was in third grade as i remember.Every Sundays,me and my friends used to go and play cricket in the playground near our house at early mornings.We always enjoyed it,it was the only time in the week when we could play and there were none to interupt the game.It was one of those sundays, the friend who always woke up first and woke us all got stuck in his house because the key to the main door of his house was not in the usual place,mistakingly his father had taken both the original and the spare key with him, while going out to buy milk and take his morning walk, so it got late while gathering our group and going to the ground.Usually we would be in the ground at 6:30 but on that day it was nearly 7:30.We hurried,As we were asked always to come back before 11.We had less time to play. We reached the playground,breathing heavily because of the running. But something else there took our breath away.There were kids already playing there!,leaving us almost no room to play,those kids were older than us and we had never seen them there.We approached one of them and asked when might they leave for which the kid answered “I don’t know, Maybe a couple of more matches.”.We hoped high an sat on the bench that was nearby.After 3 matches we thought they were leaving , it was already 9:30,but they started another match and we left the ground sadly.

                     Next time we made it on time, nobody was in the ground,so we started playing, but in the middle of our match those kids came back,and they told us to play on the side and leave the middle of the ground for them.We tried to argue that we came first, but after sometime the arguement got a little heated up,we agreed to play on the side, as we didn’t want any troubles.We placed the wickets and started playing, and our ball used to go their part of the ground every now and then. We had to wait until there current delivery got finished to fetch our ball back.

            
                    We didn’t have fun playing that day. May be because of the not so smooth flow of  the match, or because of the part of the ground we got was small,  or because it was really unfair for us, or maybe because of them all.The same exact thing happened to us the next week.The next saturday,me and our group gathered to talk this thing out.We decided to play on a different ground. We knew 2 other grounds which usually were empty.So the next day   we went to one of those,We didn’t like the ground as it had a lot of gravels and the pitch got unpredictable.So we went to another ground,but the security guard there informed us that it was a hockey ground and we are not allowed to play cricket there.We were really sad.Next saturday we gathered again.This time one of us suggested that there was a place that he has seen which is usually empty but it was on top of the hill in our hometown.

                        We discussed about it that it was tough to convince our parents and how to get there.But we were very excited to go there.So we all decided to tell that we will be going to the playground near our school which was pretty far,and so we got the permission and we even convinced  our parents for taking cycles with us.As u might guess,We didn’t go to the ground near our school.But that was because our seniors used to play there every sunday and we knew it.We went to the foot of the hill with 20 rupees of our saved money.Because we knew there was a parking fee there but we didn’t know how much.

                    So we brought what might be a safe amount,as we didn’t want to go back.I was holding the money.We reached the foot of the hill.A little tired, but excited kids don’t let such a thing stop them.I paid the parking fee which was 8 for 4 bicycles.I also kept the change of Rs.12.We stood there and saw the hill.We couldn’t even see the top because of the mist covering the view.We got even more pumped up.We started running up the stairs.After what felt like a 100 or so steps,Our spirits gave in.We sat down to rest for a few minutes on the steps itself.Nobody had realized it correctly because of the adrenaline that it was very cold.We started covering our hands by putting them in the pockets.A few of us rubbed our 

hand to keep it warm.After a few minutes we started climbing up again, This time in a walking pace. 

                        There was a place,nearly midway up the hill,where the steps and the road that leads directly to the top connects.We were almost there when i heard some man yelling “I don’t have anything to give you!!”.We reached there,The one who yelled probably moved on,since i couldn’t see him.But i saw who he was yelling at.There was this guy who was wearing a shirt that had holes in it and the first thought in mymind was didn’t he feel cold in that clothes.He was just sitting there on a step,I couldn’t read his expression,but i thought he was sad.He looked at me, we didn’t stop and were climbing towards him.

                         He came to me and asked if i had any money,he said he was hungry.I felt sorry for him and 

took the 10 rupee note out.My friends noded in disagreement,but i still gave it to him.After that we moved on.After a few steps my friends scolded me,told that it was for the ball to play next week as the ball we had now was almost shaved and looked like itwould be in 2 pieces any moment.I apologized and said that i’ll put Rs.10 back within the week.But after that one of friends told “My Mom says we shouldn’t give money to people like him”.I asked why not?.For which he answered he didn’t know.We climbed it all the way to the top and we found the place my friend talked about. But the field there was inclined a little which made us run a little when the ball went down the slope, but overall it was fine. 

                  But from the exhaust of getting here we could only play 2 matches.We were stupid not to bring water with us.So we rested a little.But we were thirsty.After a few minutes we decided to go and find a free source for water as we had almost no money with us.We were sitting on a elevation near a banyan tree,So we decided to split up and come back to the same tree in 15 minutes.We were splited into 4 groups of 2.Me and another friend of mine went to place where there were a few fast foods and tea stalls.We were asking a few fast food places if we can have water.Some of them gave it in a steel glass, which obviously wasn’t enough for us, and we felt embrassed to ask for more.Some places blatently denied saying are you gonna buy anything or not?.We answered no and kept searching.After a few places.

                      

                       I saw something that horrified me.I saw the man who i gave money in one of the tea stall.Smoking!!.He used the money i gave to smoke.I felt bad and guilty.I suddenly said to my search partner that we are not getting water like this and it’s almost 15 minutes andwe should go back.But my intension was to move away from there so that he doesn’t see what i saw.It now seems foolish to me,but i was that embarassed that i had to hide the result of my doing.We went back and one of the groups had found a kind old man who was selling some fruits.He gave us water. We drankit, Thanked him and started our desend.

           Climbing down the hill was not that tiring as climbing up.And we actually were at the foot very fast.Ifelt a glad that nobody will know.But i couldn’t change the fact that i did.And fortunately from next week even the ground near our home was free.Those kids didn’t come back.As i remember they did come back once or twice every year,but we didn’t mind that.

 

                 After a few months, I was on my way back to home from school.My friend we used to accompany me in this journey daily was sick and couldn’t come to school that day.We always used to talk while coming back home.So i was bored.I started kicking a pebble along with me.Once my kick was a little hard,and went and hit a wall on my left.there were grass there so i had to look for the pebble.But while i was looking for it,i found a 100 rupees note.I picked it up and looked around.

                    Nobody was in sight.Being the innocent kid that i was at that time.I was thinking of what to do with it.I decided to keep walking while thinking.I saw a man who i see daily.He didn’t have legs. He was lying under a tree with a dog,probably sleeping.For once i thought of giving the money to him.But after the incident on the hill i never gave any money to poor people. I was very confused what to do with it.I saw a temple,I thought of putting the money in the hundi.But i had known that will be taken to improve the temple and i didn’t belive in god,atleast not that way usually people did, so i decided against it.

                    Finally when i was really confused i saw a traffic cop and decided to give the money to him,so that he can take the decision.I actually belived in police and government at that time,so i thought those will be safe hands.I approached him,gave him the money and said that i found it lying on the street.He politely asked what   did i wanted him to do with it.Soi told i didn’t know what to do with it so i gave it to him.He said he will use it for a good cause.I trusted him and left.The road was pretty long and straight  so after some time when i turned and looked back i could see the cop,i saw that he was moving towards  a restaurant,I suddenly had a bad feeling that even he will use it for a selfish purpose.So i went back and hid behind a tree.

             The cop came out of the restaurant with what looked like parcel in his hand. And went to the handicap man that i saw earlier, gave him that parcel and from what i could make out he also gave him some money,which i think was the change left after buying the food.The cop talked with him a few minutes an came back to his designated place.I approached  him again and asked him why did he do that?.He smiled and said that he sees the poor guy daily, due to his disposition the only job he could find was to clean utensils in a fastfood cart.he usually can’t even afford three meals a day,but still sometimes feed the street dogs which accompany him.The cop continued that he had observed the guy a lot and he always sleep in the afternoon when he has less money,may be saving it for dinner,so he has strength to work in the morning.So the cop decided to help him with the money.And finally asked me isn’t it a good enough reason?.For which i answered yes and bid my farewells to the cop and went  home.

                     The next day,at my home,my father was sitting on a chair reading newspaper when i was thinking about the incident of the previous day.Suddenly he asked “What are you thinking so deeply?”.For which i replied “That if we should help strangers.”.He stared hard at my face,thought for while and finally answered “Of course we should.But we should always know our limits.One can’t help much in other’s personal problem and definitely can’t help anyone and everyone.”.I thought all these that night and finally came to a conclusion that there will always be people in need of help.We,ones who have things to spare should be on a lookout  for them and help who we think are in dire need of help,and not let the past cloud our judgement on this.

Always help in a way that doesn’t spoil them.

Thank you my dear friend for a wonderful story which was inspired by your real life journey.

Thank you