An Unusual Thought

The wheel of time runs very fast. It never gives you a moment also to reduce your stress. You have to match your life speed with this. If you are able to do so then you can survive long in this world. If not then you will be left somewhere where you never wanted to be. It’s all about planning what you made for your life. If you are able to define all the steps clearly, then only you can execute your plan. And maybe you will achieve your goal as well. If you fail to do so it means you take some steps wrong in your life. But still, you should never lose hope. You never know when the time wheel gives you again a chance to make everything in your favor. Manav was also hoping for the same in his life.

There used to be always children in Cubbon Park from 4:30 to 6:30 PM daily. That was the time when Manav used to enjoy. He used to come there almost every weekend and enjoy the breath. Kids who were playing there used to fill his mind with a lot of positive thoughts. He came there with the same purpose that day as well. But that day he was not enjoying it. He was feeling loneliness the first time in Cubbon Park. The cold air was hurting him. He was losing his breath. His eyes went to the children who were playing there nearby. And then he went to a flashback.

Two years before

His life was normal two years back. He used to be tension free boy. He never used to take anything seriously in his life until and unless Bhupendra came to his life like a life changing ray. He was a kind-hearted person. His aim of life was to give a better life style to child baggers. He was born in a middle-class family. He has always seen poverty very closely. His father was a hawk seller. Manav and Bhupendra became friends at a football ground. Bhupendra was a good defender. Usually, defender never became more famous in the football games. But he was very famous because of his defending skills. One day two teams were participating in the local tournament that was “KHANNA CUP”. It was a prestigious tournament in that area.

It was the final game of that tournament. They both were opponents to each other. Since it was a final game so many local audience were there to watch the game. Both teams wanted to perform well. They both wanted to win at any cost because their parents were there to watch the game. Match started at its scheduled time. Both teams were trying to goal but up to half time no one able to score a single point. The game started after the first half interval. This time Manav who was the main striker of his team was attacked with great energy. He came very near to the goalpost. He kicked the ball towards the goalpost.it was about to goal then only Bhupendra came and stopped that. Manav was very impressed with his defending skill. Though he was his opponent then also he was applause for him. When Bhupendra saw that he came near to him and told: “it was a good shot bhai just missed try one more”. Finally, Manav’s team lost that match in shoot-out. But he got a new friend Bhupendra.

 Within two weeks only they both became a good friend. Very soon they started caring for each other. They can feel each other’s feelings easily. It was as if they both were walking in rain then also they can easily identify tears of others. One day Bhupendra told to Manav about his dream. He told him that, he wanted to help the child beggar. But he has no money to do so. Manav was very happy with this thought. He asked him that has he any plan to do something for this. Bhupendra replied to him as of now nothing but he was working on that. Manav assured him that he will be with him. At any cost he will help him to execute that plan. Bhupendra was happy. He was thinking that someone was there with him.

 From that day they both have started to work on this. They made a plan for a week. The first step was to observe child labor life very closely. Though, they were known somehow for their lifestyle. But still, they wanted to know them closely. From day one they were started going to close them. They were asking them about their daily routine. They made a list of daily routines from different children. Some of them were begging and some of them were thieves. One week later, they made a report on their activity. They found that the percentage of rag pickers were more than others. The maximum number of children was doing that at least for 2-3 hours in a day. This was their main source of income. Rest time they used to go to signal for bagging or thieving.

 They both started to analyse their routine very closely. They were thinking to use their own skills to develop their lifestyle. Finally, after a week they came up with some ideas. Manav and Bhupendra both had decided that they will recycle the rags and using those rags they will make Scenery and Toys. They both thought that this will be a good idea because they will get raw material with those children easily. And then they will use their own brain and those children effort to make the scenery.

 The next day they called most of the beggar children. It was a tough job to convince the children. Because it was a different job that they used to do. But they convinced with very little effort. It was the first step that they took and they got success. But still, many more had to go. Manav and Bhupendra were very happy that they all agreed to do that work. From the next day only they started to work on this. Manav made a routine.

 The routine was like this-

 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM – collection of rags at the office (near to jhopadipatti)

 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM – breakfast time for everyone (arranged by Manav)

 10:00 PM to 1:00 AM- separate the useful things for scenery and toys from the rags

1:00 AM to 2:00 AM- lunchtime 2:00 AM to 4:30 AM- designing and crafting of the scenery & toys

4:30 AM to 6:30 AM- playing with all the children

They stared follow this routine very strictly. Manav and Bhupendra were very impressed with the children effort. They never thought that they would have work that much seriously. They all wanted to change their lifestyle at any cost. All those children were started dreaming with open eyes. Someone wanted to become a doctor whether someone wanted to become an engineer. Manav and Bhupendra were very happy after watching this. They themselves wanted to saw them in a good position.

One day Manav asked Bhupendra “Do you think we can give them a good life? Will these children got the chance to leave their dream? What will happen if we will fail to do so?”

 Bhupendra took a deep breath and reply to Manav “Life is an exam where the syllabus is unknown and question papers are not set.”

 He looked in eye of Manav and continued “I don’t know what will happen in the future. I don’t know whether we will be able to full fill their dream or not. But one thing I know what to do this we will push ourselves beyond the limits. And if everything will be according to our plan then god have to help us to bring the smile on their face. And if we will fail then also these children will learn to leave their own life with dignity and pride.”

 They completed their four months. Now they have the challenge to sell their products. They started to search for the buyer. They fixed a meeting with few buyers. After all the meetings they finalized one buyer. He was ready to buy their products with terms and conditions. The only problem was that he wanted the toys and scenery at least 500 at once. It was a big challenge for Manav and Bhupendra, since they were working with small kids so their pace of work was slow. But they agreed with this condition as well. They signed an agreement. As per that agreement they had to ship their first consignment within November (two months later). They all started working to achieve their targets.

One day some people came to their office. They started quarreling with Manav and Bhupendra. They don’t want to let them work. Those children used to work for those people. They used to bag and thief for them. But now they were working with those, because of that they were not giving them money. That day they came with a full gang and they were destroying their office area and products. Bhupendra came in front and started shouting.

He told everyone who was fighting there “To fulfill your own desire, please don’t play with these small kids. They are very small to carry the load of your dream on their shoulders. They are like a flower, which will give us a pleasant smell if it will be in a tree. But if we will try to tug it, it can still smell but for one day only. These kids are like a balloon. You can hold it in your hand as well as you can let them fly in the air. But if you will leave it in air it looks more attractive than your hand. They can achieve a milestone that you never think of, but only one barrier is there in their life and that is you. Please, let them fly. Let them run with barefoot on the hot soil. Let them burn their own feet to fulfill their own dream instead of your dream. So that, they can reach to the sky with the wings made by themselves.”

 He was full of tears when he finished his speech. He was looking with hope to others. But it was a miracle. That motivational speech was really worked out. Those seniors who were destroying all those things, they were standing there with fold hand. They were asking Bhupendra to excuse them. They told they were not seeing that much far. They just wanted to pass their life like others. They told him that now they are with them if they need any support with them just ask them at any point in time.

It was a great achievement for Manav and Bhupendra. Now they had people’s support. So they were feeling strong with manpower as well. So they again started working.

Finally, they achieve their target in time with a little bit of difficulties. Everything was according to the plan that day. Morning at sharp 8:30 they all reached the office. That day came when they had to deliver their first consignment to the customer. Manav and Bhupendra both were very excited that day. Finally, they were going to see a big smile on the face of children. Their dream was going to come true.

Bhupendra told Manav that “You go with the truck and I will reach there by bike.”

 Manav told OK to Bhupendra.

And they both started from thereafter wishing good luck to both and children as well.

 Manav reached the customer office on time. He was waiting for Bhupendra. He was thinking that Bhupendra should reach there before him. He called him, but he was not receiving his call. After 30 minutes he loses his patience and he called him again. This time he picked up the call with the first ring only.

 Manav- where are you Bhuvi??

Someone- Hi I am not Bhuvi. By the way, this phone belongs to a person and he is hospitalized.

 Manav was speechless. He was feeling like someone has pressed his neck. He was not able to breathe. He was not able to stand properly. He came back to his own when he again listens to a voice from the other side of the phone.

Someone- did you know this guy?

Manav- yes, from which hospital are you speaking?

Someone- CMH

Manav- I am coming there within half an hour. Please be there.

Manav started running. He took an auto and asked him to run fast towards CMH.

When Manav reached there he started running like a mad guy. He asked the receptionist about Bhupendra room number. She replied that he was in the emergency ward. She wanted to tell him something but before that only he escaped. He reached the emergency room he asked the doctor about Bhupendra.

 Manav- doctor how is Bhupendra now?

 Doctor- who are you?

 Manav- I am his friend.

 Doctor- where are his relatives?

Manav- doctor tell me what happened to him.

 Doctor- he has a serious injury in an accident.

 Manav- how is he now?

 Doctor- I am sorry. He is no more now. He came here 15 min late. We had tried our best but…

  

When Manav heard that news he was devastated! The wall clock ticks like the timer on a bomb. He can’t stop it, reverse it or slow it down. Each tick drags him forward, helpless and nervous. He can no more avoid it than the beating of his own heart as it pounds with futility against its cage of bone.

Present day

 Today when he was looking to the children he feels that how happy they were. He was thinking if Bhupendra had seen how much he would have been happy. Today all those dreams what he was watched became true. Now his idea became a strong start-up, which was helping with its profit to those beggar children to fulfill their dream. “BAGGER’S DREAM” company got an appreciation award from Indian government. Since it was recycling the garbage because of that environment pollution was also decreasing so they got an award from UNO as well.

Everyone was happy and Manav was also trying to be happy because if Bhupendra had been there he also wanted the same thing. Finally, his thought became a solid true that “Life is an exam where the syllabus is unknown and question papers are not set.” Today Bhupendra was not alive but his dream was alive. It was reaching high in the sky.