AUTOWALA, ELSTINA AND I
“A rag-picker’s son will, always, remain a rag-picker,
as long as he has in his mind the image of a rag-picker.”
- Source unknown
I was on my way to workplace, last morning. A
little distance later, I saw Elstina, our dear friends’ daughter, trying to get
an auto. I immediately asked my auto driver to stop and called out Elstina. She
was relieved as she was late, and as her both hands were full with a nicely
folded blazer and files.
“Thank-you
so much uncle,” Elstina said as she settled next to me, “I was getting really
anxious.”
Elstina,
who is doing her MCA, had a very important presentation to make yesterday. I
wished her well, and also, made her feel great saying that she would be placed
in a fantastic company once she completed her studies. I suggested that she
should explore avenues overseas too, both for studies as well as job. During
our discussion, I did mention to her about my son’s campus placement and she
was delighted to hear about it.
“Elstina,
today, you guys are living in a different world, unlike we, at your age, did,” I
said, “There are great opportunities and they pay you handsome salaries… All
that you need to do is: be very good in your subject and be very good in
pitching yourself in the job market.” Then, a short pause alter, I added,
“Maybe, a little bit of God’s grace, too!”
“True
uncle,” Elstina agreed…
Just
before alighting, I heard the auto-driver saying, “Sir, is there a way you can
help me get a good job?”
Now,
both Elstina an I, looked at each other. “Why does he say so?” this was what we
were thinking, “What kind of job this young rickshaw driver is hoping to get?”
“Kya kiya hai aapne?” I asked him to
know about his qualification.
“B.A. kiya hai sir maine,” he told me…
Though,
for a moment, I felt bad for him, I wasn’t shocked to know his truth. Thousands
of young graduates, particularly from remote places of UP, Bihar etc., end up
doing odd jobs like this rickshawala…
There
was hardly any time, for Elstina and me, to stay back and try to help him in
any practical way. All that I could bring myself to do was, to press his
shoulder caringly and say, “ Aap jawan
ho; aur koshish keejiye… Aapka koshish aur Ishwar ka ashirwad, do no chahiye.”
“Ji sir, thank-you,” all of us bid
good-bye to each other….
Autowala,
Elstina and I…
* Name changed
GERALD
D’CUNHA
Comments
- Supriya Patni