The College of LIfe

It was a noisy evening at Besant Nagar beach. Hawkers shouting, ice cream cart bells jingling while lots of people hurried along - some for want of exercise, some towards a destination while many others just wandered around aimlessly. The warm sea breeze carried the smell of freshly roasted corn and other wares that were being prepared by the business-men-of-tomorrow in their temporary set-up stalls. Children ran around in the bright yellow flood light, screaming out calls to their little buddies, chasing balloons, throwing beach balls, building sand-castles, seeking attention in their little innocent sort of way, from adults that were so engrossed in their own worlds. People were there in all sorts of colors, from all sorts of levels and in all sorts of moods.

And there he stood, an old man – educated many years ago, from a system that taught more than what any modern day brick walled institution could possibly do – a philosopher of life, casually observing those passing by. In his satchel, he carried all his worldly possessions – not much but enough for him to keep himself clean and different from the rest of his kind. He was aware of his destiny and fate. He knew his role in life and was content to play it out at his best. Some of us will never be aware of our roles as he was. He was himself. Each step, a carefully placed step, each shuffle a pre-conceived thought that became an action. He did not take walking for granted. To him it was an art, it was a task, and it was not easy.

Walking carefully towards those seated, he adjusted his thick rimmed glasses, and fixed a toothless smile on his old wrinkled face. He carefully looked through the crowd, assessing each person, one by one. He did not want much. He just needed whatever it took to satisfy his needs. Many years had taught him who to ask and how. He smiled. A preoccupied young man was sitting all alone, casually keying away words on his cell phone. Asking preoccupied people for what you needed usually had two kinds of consequences – they either asked you to go away or they gave you what you needed.

“Sir, could you please spare this old man a meal or something to drink?” he asked the young man seated in the crowd that seemed totally oblivious to his existence. The old man’s voice had a slight British accent. He could have been a very learned man. There definitely was more to him than what met the eye. There was a charisma in his eye that caught the young man’s attention – a joy in doing the job he did. Curiosity got the better of the young man. He had never been approached by a beggar that spoke such good English before. It bothered him a bit somewhere at the back of his mind. It was quite unusual. Many questions plagued him - inconsequential questions that would never be answered because they would never be asked. Yet they raced on through his young head.

Dipping his hand into his wallet, he smiled. He did not have much, but he did have ten rupees. Looking back at the old man, he said. ‘Uncle, I do not have a lot of money, but this is all I can give you now.’, giving the old man the money. This was more than what the old man usually got when he asked. He stretched his wrinkled arms upward and thanked God loudly. Gazing back into the young man’s eyes, he saw curiosity written all over his face. He felt that some sort of explanation should be given. “Son, I ask God everyday, when I go out to beg, that he should meet my daily needs. I see young people walk up and down this beach, throwing their hard earned money here and there on frivolities that soon pass away.” The young man nodded his head in agreement. “Instead of investing their money in gaining knowledge, they usually satisfy their tongues and tummies. While getting my needs met, i learn more about people than any college or school could teach me.” He pointed upwards to the sky for emphasis and continued, “The stars are my roof and the beach my home. The police may chase me from here to there but one day, this body will not be bothered by that anymore. Till then i thank God for every simple meal I get and for children like you who make it possible for this old man to sleep on a filled stomach. It saddens me a times when people waste money but that is their role in society. For them, that is their destiny.” With that the old man stopped. He smiled at the young man and said “God bless you, Son.” With his needs for the day being satisfied, he slowly hobbled away into the night. A happy and thankful man to a God that heard his prayers.

The young man was left to think. He had always been part of that young crowd the old man spoke about but doubted if he would ever be one again. It felt nice to hear such words of wisdom when you least expected it - especially from people you never expected to hear them from. There was more to life than the petty toys he spent his money on or the wild parties he threw his time and energies into. The happiness he obtained was always fleeting. Everyone had a role to play and for the first time, he realized that he had his too. He knew that for ten rupees, he had learnt the best lesson in the college of Life - God would provide for your needs, just do your part to your best and He will do the rest.