My stop is the very first stop for my office bus. The bus comes quite early every morning, the early-morning snack shops in my area are open, and I can see joggers, walkers, and foodies everywhere.
The driver and conductor of my bus also pack poha (flat rice) and jalebi (a sweet dish) for all the drivers and conductors at the workplace to share and have fresh breakfast together once they all reach the campus. It’s like their morning ritual, after which they all get back to work.
I was the only person on the bus on a Saturday with the driver and conductor. As usual, they stopped at a morning-snack shop, packed breakfast for all their colleagues, and this time came and handed me a little pack of poha as well. I hesitated, politely thanked them, returned the pack, and said that I already had my tiffin box.
The conductor said, ‘Please le lijiye, Ma’am. Tiffin to thanda ho jata hai dopahar tak. Garam breakfast kar lijiye. Thanda baasi kyon khana?’ (Please take it, Ma’am. The food in the tiffin box doesn’t remain hot and gets soggy by the time you have lunch. At least have a hot and fresh breakfast. Why eat cold food?). He handed me the pack again, smiled, and went back to the first seat in the bus; we drove off and reached the office.
I just remembered how we usually get rid of the ‘left-over’ food by giving it away to people who aren’t as privileged as us. Do they feel the warmth and kindness we ‘pretend’ to glorify by ‘not wasting food and giving it away to the needy’?
Who is warm and kind now? I am speechless.
Shines & Shadows 