That old man….

Few morning sunshine have so much in them to teach you, they have so much to display that the teachings are as bright as the sun itself!

Something same happened this morning, with all cleaning stuff at home before Diwali there was lot of things which were old and to be scrapped out! Of course, the two factors – one being Indian and second being a middle-class Marwari family – the scrap was not just waste it was to be sold to the scrap seller and that was my so-called hard-earned money after all the cleaning done! (I hope a few of you can relate to me!)
Dad, has been selling scrap to an old man since last 12-15 years and he too very religiously comes to our place every Diwali in that tone “Sahib, Diwali ki Saaf-Safaai huyi ya naahi abtak? (Sir, is the Diwali cleaning done, so that he could collect the scrap) This time too he came, this old man nearly in his late 70s was so very active to pick up the heavy boxes filled with books which I could not even lift from my room to the outer corridor of my house, he picked all the papers, the cardboards, all the tins, plastic and was ready with the all calculations done. He handed over the money to me and left.

The incidence was done, but that old wrinkled face, tired watery eyes, the chapped lips, the sweaty skin covered with an old patchy shirt (but which was very clean), a little weary chappal which was stitched at the ends was all just haunting me with so much inspiration! Though he wasn’t having a very luxurious life or an AC cabin for his job, he did wear a beautiful smile. He never had an sports class car instead it was just a cart which he had to push the entire day long even when the sun showed its cruelty with those high flames! Nor did he have a branded pair of shoes or something which he could flaunt off!

But then he had something which most of us lack today even in our business class cars, wearing a Rado in one hand and eyes peeping out from corner of a brand-new gold-plated Ray-Ban – he had honesty and satisfaction of what he was doing, he wore a smile and was contended with what he did.

While collecting the scrap he said something very beautiful to me, “Didi, mehnat ka kama ke khaaye bina neend naahi aavat hai, aaj tak kabhi bhi kisi se be-imaani naahi kare hai hum (in that typical accent of his) (Which simply meant, Didi, there is no peace to sleep without working hard and earning money, till date I haven’t ever cheated anyone in my job)
So beautifully he taught me to earn as much as you deserve, as much as your hard work deserves gives you a sense of satisfaction. The morning will inspire me for lifetime to be honest and sincere in whatever one does!! If I am not wrong the teachings of Islam rightly say “Aaram ka paisa haram hai”

So, what I learnt was

• Be satisfied in whatever you do, life has it own way to surprise you, hard work never goes unpaid!
• Keep smiling, life observes you every single minute!
• And lastly, be honest in whatever you do!

Smile and spread smiles. Get inspired and spread the vibes! Happy morning guys!