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Their Huddle

Their Huddle

2 mins
149


They stood away from us. A few arm distances easily. They formed their own huddle oblivious to the external environment. I wondered why they did not like the rest of us. Although a little kid smiled gently at me, only to be pulled back into their huddle quickly. So sad I couldn't even return my smile fully. They drank their coffee from different cups than ours. They talked and laughed happily paying zero attention to what others did or said. Does disintegration come naturally when you have a little happy world of yours?


After about thirty minutes I walked back home. By then, the group had long dispersed. Quite surprisingly, I saw them on my way back home. They were engrossed in their work – sweeping the streets, cleaning the toilet and collecting the garbage. I noticed something that would remain etched in my mind forever. Whoever came close to them quickly maintained a few arms distance and dumped the garbage bags without ever touching them. Even if the locality people chose to share the leftover food with the group, it was carefully placed in a corner from where the cleaning personnel had to pick it up. I thought they were being treated like untouchables! For what fault of theirs?


Later in the day, I realized the harsh truth of life.  Something called "dignity of labor" was dead. Nobody wanted to include them and respect them because of their profession which to me seemed ridiculously unfair. No wonder thought I, they form their own huddle and pull back the innocent children into their huddle before the massive world ill-treats the kids. 


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