A heart rending scene.....

      Like I mentioned in the post "The Last Fortnight",I got associated with 'Pankhudi' a few months ago.Usually what happens every weekend is we people meet at B.C,then I ,Murthy bhaiya along with Shrikant bhaiya and Krunal bhaiya ,go to the Wakedewadi slum .Then I wait at a place there called 'Patangan' while the other three of us go to the kids' places and get them.We then bring them to the electrical department at our college and then the classes begin.But today was a different experience.

       Krunal bhaiya and Shrikant bhaiya had not come.So today it was me,Murthy bhaiya and two other people.So,Murthy bhaiya asked me to go to the kids' places and gather them at 'Patangan'.I told him that I didnt know where the kids' stayed.So he asked a kid there who knew the houses of others to accompany me.So I set off.

      The scene that I saw next was really disturbing.The kid was holding my hand and taking me from nooks and corners in the slum to the kids' houses.The sight of the their houses stirred my soul.I had never been to such a place before.Though my home has only three rooms,I just could not imagine living my life in such a small place.The people there actually did.They cooked ,ate ,studied ,slept ,they did everything in that single room.Clothes and utensils were being washed just in front of the door.There was hardly one foot space to walk between line of houses.I saw cards being played with money on stake,cigars being puffed by men,old ,middle-aged and as young as me.I heard abuses and obscene words being howled at each other.

        I didnt know what to do,cry or mourn,feel pity.I just didnt know the emotion that I was filled with.My steps came to a halt.I was just continously staring.Sameer(the kid who accompanied me) was pulling my hand and saying,"Akshay bhaiya chalo na....aur bahut saare logo ko lana hai".It took him a sudden jerk to bring me back to senses.

       Inspite of all these surroundings,there was a glint on the people's faces,there was a smile which said that they were contented with what they had.People there belonged to different castes ,different religions,but they all seemed to share a cognate,a bond which helped them dwell together peacefully.But I wasnt convinced.I had already been perturbed.

        While coming back to hostel,I saw a sight that added to the already going turbulence.Just opposite the Sancheti Hospital ,I saw this big hoarding that said,"Rooms for those who like the the real sea side view" and then I looked down at the footpath.I saw small shelters made of sacks,food being cooked by the roadside.I saw kids crying and a man hitting them.What an irony of life!!!!!Ek taraf sea side view ki ad,aur ek taraf wo log jinke pass rahane ke liye ghar hi nahi hai.

       I wanted to talk to someone,so I tried calling up my sister.But the phone was out of coverage area.So I just decided to write it down.My head has started whining now.All I am gonna do now is just try and flush all those thoughts and have a good sleep.But I guess this god damn headache and persistently running nose wont let me do so......