I discovered this challenge of writing a short story in 50 words on Deepak Jeswal's Blog. Never dared to take it up till now because I am generally a verbose writer; but had an overwhelming urge to take it up today because of an event that I was witness to ... Pardon me for any discrepancies .. this is my 1st attempt -
"When truck driver Faulad Singh gave Rotis from the leftover of yesterday's dinner to the child beggar, he was rewarded with a chunk of expletives from the beggar. "Ehsaan Faramosh!" - hollered Faulad. Little did he know that the boy was simply thanking him in what he thought was his language."
That's exactly 50 words!
Clarification: No! This is not a joke! Pardon me if it looked like one - I certainly do not want to say that 'Thank You' in one Indian language is an expletive in the other. This in no way is a comment on the diversity of languages in this country.
I wanted to comment that beggars and street children are not as poor in money and basic necessities, as they are in proper education and cultural orientation. Most of these children do not hear any words except expletives either from their parents/guardians or passersby. The daily misery they undergo of feeding themselves by begging frantically for food, and getting in reward nothing but ignoring looks and at most stale food, makes them perpetually angry. These children have nothing else to give back even to their benefactors but the same expletives that fall on their ears all day.
I see atleast 2 such street children everyday mostly on signals near Ghatkopar Railway Station or Kurla-Kamani crossing in Mumbai. And everytime I see them, I find a certain feeling of guilt in my mind; for my inability do anything to help these children. Some of you may argue that we can donate money, or food to solve this problem. I disagree. As I have said earlier, these children are not in as much need of food and money as they are of education and cultural orientation. I can see a misguided and discontent youth in each of these children who will either drown himself/herself in oblivion or become a rebel - a terrorist without cause. What is needed is means to provide a proper upbringing to these children than simply food or money.
How best I can I aid in providing for this need is the question I am seeking answer to.
"When truck driver Faulad Singh gave Rotis from the leftover of yesterday's dinner to the child beggar, he was rewarded with a chunk of expletives from the beggar. "Ehsaan Faramosh!" - hollered Faulad. Little did he know that the boy was simply thanking him in what he thought was his language."
That's exactly 50 words!
Clarification: No! This is not a joke! Pardon me if it looked like one - I certainly do not want to say that 'Thank You' in one Indian language is an expletive in the other. This in no way is a comment on the diversity of languages in this country.
I wanted to comment that beggars and street children are not as poor in money and basic necessities, as they are in proper education and cultural orientation. Most of these children do not hear any words except expletives either from their parents/guardians or passersby. The daily misery they undergo of feeding themselves by begging frantically for food, and getting in reward nothing but ignoring looks and at most stale food, makes them perpetually angry. These children have nothing else to give back even to their benefactors but the same expletives that fall on their ears all day.
I see atleast 2 such street children everyday mostly on signals near Ghatkopar Railway Station or Kurla-Kamani crossing in Mumbai. And everytime I see them, I find a certain feeling of guilt in my mind; for my inability do anything to help these children. Some of you may argue that we can donate money, or food to solve this problem. I disagree. As I have said earlier, these children are not in as much need of food and money as they are of education and cultural orientation. I can see a misguided and discontent youth in each of these children who will either drown himself/herself in oblivion or become a rebel - a terrorist without cause. What is needed is means to provide a proper upbringing to these children than simply food or money.
How best I can I aid in providing for this need is the question I am seeking answer to.
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