Rich And Poor

I was walking the streets of the Garia Haat market in Kolkata. As told by friends it was indeed a shopping paradise. The hawkers displayed a wide variety of things. I had a list of few things in mind but, somehow ended up buying a lot more. I was exhausted and confused at the same time. My heart was not allowing me to leave for home. My body and pocket had given up. I chose to have some street snacks and then take a taxi back home. Then again I got confused about whether to eat Puchakas, Kathi rolls or chops and momos. My hands were aching carrying the shopping bags, so preferred to sit at a stall and enjoy delicious chowmin instead. As I was sitting keeping an eye on my stuff and simultaneously waiting for my turn to be served, from the corner of my eyes saw a young boy stealing some fried snacks. The owner of the stall caught him red-handed. I was wondering if I will get to eat at the place or have to leave, as the boy would get a sound thrashing. But to my utter dismay, the owner made the boy sit caressing his head he offered him water and some snacks. Like me, others had expected the same fate for the boy. Some of them controverted the owner the reason for not thrashing. Very intelligently he said, the boy was hungry and in spite of knowing he would be beaten black and blue took the step. In our country, people steal and do scams worth billions and are left unharmed.