To the young lad in the tea stall...

 

Tuesday, 19 April 2011

To the young lad in the tea stall

                                             

The year - 1981...place - Chromepet, a small corner of Chennai. I had completed my B.A in Economics and had begun working as a primary school teacher at a private school in Chetpet. To compensate for the pitifully low and insufficient pay, I had taken on home tuitions, both before and after school. I would leave home by 6.30am, after a cup of coffee, carrying the lunch mum would have packed. I would then pick up 2 idlis at the canteen at railway station - this would be greedily downed during the "interval" at school!

So - the daily custom was to pick up said idlis from the stall. This was manned by a young lad (perhaps my age..??). Usually I would make it just in time to order, pay & collect my parcel and hop onto the train that would pull in almost simultaneously. The lad knew what my order was (I have always been a creature of habits!), and would begin packing even as I approached his stall. But some days I would be slightly late, and the train would be entering the station just as I was reaching the spot where the ladies' compartment would stop.  And this young lad would chuck the parcel to me, and I would pay him the next day! Now, bearing in mind this was in the '80s...he probably paid for the cost of my breakfast from his pocket...to ensure I didn't go without mine! We hardly spoke - I know I would smile, thank him...but I didn't know his name...(I think of him as a 'Murugan' for some reason..), and I didn't stop by to inform him I wouldn't need the parcels anymore when I started working for a bank about 18 months later....

However, I often remember this young lad and thank him for his thoughtfulness...saying a quick prayer for his well being. Did he wonder what had happened to me? Did he know his kindness was appreciated? Did the others he served so thoughtfully know his name? Has he been commended or rewarded for his 'good customer service' and 'going beyond expectations' work attitude?  Did he ever wonder what happened to the thin, saree clad woman who bought a parcel of 2 idlis, day in and day out? Did he -  like me - manage to move on to something better? 

I will never know the answers to these questions, but would like to think he has come up in life.

So, dear Murugan, I thank you for your thoughtfulness:

I'm sure this arose from kindness

Both of which were priceless

During my moments of darkness.

Now, albeit rather late

I thank you for sparing me

Your time...your effort..and perhaps a thought??
And surely a much needed dime!

I hope life has treated you well

with the gentleness you deserve
Thank you, my friend.