Popcorn
January 3, 2010“Sir, why don’t you buy this popcorn?”
“No, we don’t want…”
Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kdixon/
“Please sir, it is so tasty…”
“Yeah it must be, but we are not in a mood for it”
“Eat it and you will get the mood”
“No yaar, we don’t want it”
“Sir, please”
“Do you go to school?”
“Yeah, we go to school in the mornings and in the evenings we come to this beach”
“Why are your parents making you sell these things”
“They don’t have money”
“Ok, take this ten rupees”
“Here are your two popcorn packets then…”
“No, we don’t want popcorn. Just have the money”
“Why you don’t want the popcorn?”
“I told you no, we are not in a mood to eat popcorn, re”
“Then have your money back”
The kid (maybe 10 years of age) gives them the money and walks away from there. The two youngsters chase him, take the popcorn from him and pay him for the popcorn.
This is a true incident. I was very close by when this happened in one of the beaches of Mumbai.
And I could hear Bombay say ‘This is the spirit of Aamchi Mumbai!’
Destination Infinity
Wishing you people an advanced happy new year 2011. That way, you can’t complain that I am late or I forgot to wish you for 2010 😛
Destination Infinity 
🙂 I am not too sure what to say…
I guess pride / self-esteem is something that cuts across caste, creed, economical differences and borders of the human race…
Yeah, if I had to comment on my own post, even I would not be sure what to say! Tough job that – commenting on ones own posts 🙂
Values, are not eroded because of lack of money… I guess..
dude… what i’ve noticed is that, its the other way round…
values are eroded because of the PRESENCE of (too much) money… that one thinks one can buy one’s way through any wrong and forget there are things money can never buy.
I too wanted to say that point – Values are eroded because of a lot of money – not lack of it, but for some of the recent stories I had a similar theme – hence was not able to mention! I don’t know why the same topic is ringing in my mind!! Need to diversify this blog… hmmmm… 🙂
Ummm how is that related to Mumbai spirit?
I don’t know if anyone else has felt this – right from the moment you get down in CST or Dadar, you feel fresh and wanting to work – may be its the pace of the city that makes you feel so! I am not sure if its my imagination but its hard to be lazy in that city!
Wow! Now, that’s something!
It is the attitude that makes the difference sometimes, and I saw a lot of it in that kid. We, internet browsing citizens are a lot luckier – we never had to work when we were young!
🙂
Well, I wanted to communicate something through this story, not sure what!
Cool… but it doesn’t happen only in mumbai!! I have witnessed such things in ahmedabad too and i am sure it happens else where too! 🙂
Yeah, I have not visited enough places, but I don’t know why I consider Mumbai as the example of hard work and I am amazed at the energy of the people there
I have seen this seen in Chennai beach also. One very old man came to us selling tenga maanga sundal. We were reluctant to buy and my husband offered him money but he got angry and abused us ‘neenga panakkaararnaa ungaloda vachchukkonga, yenakku unga pichchai vendaam. veetla panna sundal, pidikkalainna athoda vidunga, insult pannaadeenga’ he gave a long speech to us.
My husband felt bad and asked him if he has got any children, he can give them a job. He said that all were well settled and he was happy with his job. We left the beach earlier than planned.
There was a honesty survey done by a magazine (Time, I guess) in a lot of cities in the world where cell phones would be lost wantedly and they see how many cell phones were returned – Amazingly India (Mumbai) was within the top 6 of around 50 countries that participated around the world! I guess, there are some incidents that happen in our everyday life to be proud about, like the one that you have written. Thanks for the input.
little ones always stick to their pride 😀 that is what our country holds.
‘the pride’ of all is the most important to possess.
lovely true tale friend 🙂
-Aiz
If they dint want the popcorn, you shouldve atleast taken it from them na ? 😀 😀 😀 Chey chey !!! what all I have to teach people ! 😀 That kid has got a wonderful attitude though seriously dumb ! 😀 😀 😀
So you wished for 2011 also, huh ! smart baaaayyyy !! 😀 😀 Well, Im forgetting to wish you in advance and so, heres an advanced belated happy 2011 wish for you ! 😀 😀
really nice post to start 2010 DI… 😀 😀 happy new year to you… 😀 😀
Lovely!! Proud of that boy 🙂
And a very Happy 2010 to you 🙂
Oh I like that! God bless the kid 🙂