Happy Singh

At 8 PM the phone in her house rang. Prakruti was busy winding up the work that she was doing. She just saved whatever work she was doing, and went to answer the phone. Her daughter was sitting in the hall, busy watching some web series oblivious of the ringing of the phone. She went to the hall, gave a look to her daughter (the kind of look that parents give to their children asking- can't you hear, the phone is ringing? Am I the only one in this household who's supposed to answer the phone when it rings?) and answered the phone. 

"Good evening ma'am," said Stella's tired voice at the other end. "Good evening dear," said Prakruti unenthusiastically."Maam, you have to come to the office tomorrow?" Stella informed further. "Yes will be there," said Prakruti. They exchanged pleasantries and ended the conversation.

Oh, God! Prakruti held her head in her hands. Sometimes she would think, why do I have to work? But financial independence was very important for her. She went to the kitchen and thought of rustling a quick dinner. That done, she wound up her work for the day, served dinner, finished all the kitchen chores, and went off to bed. These days she would fall off to sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. The blaring TV outside or for that matter even the sound of a bomb blast could not disturb her. She slept so soundly. In the morning at 5 AM, she was up and going about doing her work. She had told her husband that she had to go to the office today. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, everyone had become paranoid about going out. Prakruti's in-laws were scared that she would contract the disease and pass it on to them. Actually, everybody was worried only about themselves.

 Nobody was worried about her. In order to avoid the verbal battle in the morning, she decided to scoot from the house before anybody was up. She finished her work, cooked breakfast, and got ready to leave. Due to the spread of COVID 19 from the month of April, she was doing work from home most of the time. Now was the occasion to dress up as she was going to step out after nearly a fortnight. She chose a light blue Kurta with a matching mask that she had brought recently and had worn it only once while they had a celebration at home. Today when she opened her wardrobe, she felt even her clothes were happy after a long time. They would have thought, finally, after a fortnight, somebody is actually going to use us. She thought the other clothes in the wardrobe must be jealous of the blue Kurta as that was going to be worn today. It will see the light today. All other clothing must be wondering as to when will their turn come? When will they get to go out, get washed, and ironed?

Prakruti just wondered what all thoughts were coming into her mind when her priority should be to get ready and go. Pushing all thoughts aside, she quickly got ready. It was 6.30 AM, and the house was quiet and peaceful as everyone was still asleep. She took the car keys, stepped out of the house, locked the door, and proceeded to the place where she parked her car. She put her bag on the backseat, got into the driver's seat, and started the car. So many vehicles were already there out on the roads. Bangalore she felt was soon going to set the record for being the most polluted city in the world. Soon she reached the Yelahanka police station junction. When she left home it was drizzling and by now it was raining heavily. Water gets collected at the signal. She had to stop at the signal as the lights had turned red. When she started her car after the signal went green, she realized that her vehicle was not moving. Oh, damn it. This is all that she needed right now. She realized her vehicle was struck in the muck on the street. While she was contemplating what should be her next move a small boy completely drenched in the rain came and knocked on the glass at the driver's side. She noticed that the boy must be around 10 years old. He was wearing a mask as well. Curious to know what he wanted, she lowered the glass and asked him what he wanted? She could see him smiling as his mask had become soggy. "Do you need help?" he asked. "And how are you going to help me young man?" she asked. "You start the car madam, I will push it from behind."

Prakruti could not help but smile. "Oh! So you are going to push the car is it?" She asked. 

"Why not?" replied the boy, flaunting the muscles in his arm. "I'm a strong boy."

"Okay," she said. She started the car and the boy pushed it from behind. After some time she realized the car had started moving and very soon it was out of the muck. She was wondering how a little boy had so much strength and then when she glanced into the rearview mirror, she realized that there were four more boys with the boy who had spoken to her. She parked the car aside and all the boys came near the window. They were standing apart from each other and when she looked at them quizzically the small boy said, "social distancing madam." She was happy to see the awareness amongst the masses. Everybody was in this together. The war to stop the spread of the disease. Upon closer look at the boys who had helped her just now, she realized they were the boys who sold different things at the signals. The pandemic had affected them badly, as people were scared to buy anything. But the boys were unfazed by the circumstances. The youngest of the boys who had earlier flaunted his muscles smiled and said, Bye auntyji." She couldn't resist his smile and smiled back. 

Just out of curiosity, Prakruti asked the boys how were they managing. The boys smiled and said they trusted Krishna uncle to take care of them. Further conversation revealed that Krishna uncle meant lord Krishna to them.

"He ensures we will be happy and taken care of. If he's closed one way, he opens new avenues for us."

She liked the confidence of these boys. "And what avenues did he open for you today."

The youngest boy grinned and said, "He's sent rain. Vehicles of more people will get stuck now and we will push the vehicles and help them out, then they will reward us." 

Oh, she would have never thought like this. In their place, she would have cursed her stars and bad luck. She reached for her purse and gave some money to the boys.

She waved goodbye and went about her way. What a life lesson this boy had taught her today. We generally feel if you are rich you are happy, but these boys had nothing but were still happy. Materialistic things had nothing to do with happiness. It's just a state of mind. After her encounter with the boys, she decided to bring out the Happy Singh in her, stay happy and spread happiness. There's a Happy Singh in all of us. It's just up to you to not let anyone or anything influence you but to stay happy.