The old man

When I am in Mumbai, I love going to the balcony and looking out when I am bored. I live on the corner, of a busy traffic junction and hence can see the cars, the beggars, the pedestrians, the fights, the accidents, the people waiting for their friends/family, the autowallas sitting in the corner and eating and having their discussions. It all has so much life in it.When I am bored, I observe all of this. But what I love to observe is the pedestrians coming and going. Some walk fast with smiles on their face and I love imagining how they can't wait to meet their friends/family/loved ones, and how when they walk fast with a scowl on their face, they are dreading the visit to work/school/college. There are times when people walk while talking on the phone. Children go home after school, some people with guitars and books....But this is the story about the old man I saw today. As usual, I was bored and went to the balcony. I observed the family of beggars, with three children. I saw students, I saw people rushing to work, I saw cars, autos. Nothing unusual. Then I saw him. The old man. He was selling pencils/fans( I couldn't make out because of the distance). He worked endlessly in the heat-making me cry. He was old, an age when he should be relaxing, enjoying his life. You could see the hardships he faced in each wrinkle on his face, his body was hunched over as if he was given up on life. I could imagine his story. Maybe his children has abandoned him and his wife. Or maybe they needed more money. Maybe they were waiting for him to come back home with money, because they had nothing to eat. Either way, he cut a very sad picture. Why he was there, I don't know. All I know is that each time the signal turned red he would walk from car to car, auto to auto, trying to sell them what he had. I watched him for an hour, with tears rolling down my eyes. I wished that the people would understand that they wouldn't become poorer by ten rupees and it would help those who were working hard to make a living.I wanted to go down to help him, but I had just woken up. I watched him for an hour and then rushed into the bathroom making myself feel better by thinking how I could get ready and go down and buy whatever he was selling. As soon as I got out, I got ready and went to the balcony. I couldn't see him anywhere.Now my mind wanders again....forming stories. It also hopes that wherever he is, he has found hope and help. And he comes tomorrow so I can be at peace.