Shady street lights

Are we really growing? Answer by most of the people will be yes. But, I do not think so. Let me justify myself.

I was coming back to home at around 7:00 p.m. Dark sky, cool breeze, mind full of random thoughts and eyes looking around in every direction. And then my eyes suddenly freezed. I saw a child washing dishes. He must be 12 years or so. He asked his father “padh lun ab thodi der?” and to this his father replied “15 minute ruk ja… light jal jane de”.

I went to a bus stop nearby and sat there waiting. After 15 minutes street lights got life and to this little boy smiled sweetly and started to study under lights. After few moments, his father noticed me and came near and asked “kya hua?” I said “kuch nahi” and offered little financial help to which he denied saying “shukriya par yeh paise nahi le sakta; malik ne itna diya hai ki isse apne pairo par khada kar saku… aur ek baat, yeh khud yahan aata hai, main nahi bulata aur phir yahin padhta hai… hum dono hi hai ek dusre ka parivaar”. 

Conversation started on the topic of education but ended on love; love for family.

Yes, we are growing but just physically. Growing up means getting wiser, understanding the value of people who did everything they could do for us. But as we are growing, we are leaving our parents behind. The pain they go through will be understandable only when our children will grow up and leave us.

Whatever I saw at ‘shady street light’ taught me to get wise. We need to thank our parents for their support, their love, their patience with us. They have surrendered their own life for our well being. We need to understand them.

~StoryTeller