Like any other Sunday Mr. Pande was resting on his rocking chair. Mr. Pande was a teacher in a local but popular school of Nagpur. Sipping tea along with reading newspaper, was his morning routine. He saw the glimpse of the headline, 'Star Buses will be soon replacing the ST buses'. As he began to read further, he heard the sound of the Scooter. He got up and took his specs off and kept it on the table. He went outside to check who this early morning visitor was. It was Mr. Paranjape, his friend and colleague. He gave him a warm hug and asked Mrs. Pande to prepare a cup of tea for him. He refused politely and told that he just had one.
Mr. Paranjape is simple man. If his characteristics were to be drawn, just by observing him. Some of them would be, an honest and punctual person, naturally silent, a good listener and an observer.
Mr. Paranjape said in a calm voice, "I’m going to the wholesale vegetable market. My wife told me that the vegetables over there are quiet cheap if you purchase them in bulk. Would you mind if I ask you to come along with me to the market. You can even buy some of those if you wish to". Mr. Pande replied, "That’s not a thing to ask Paranjapeji, of course! I will join you. Just give me few minutes, I'll be ready in a while". Mr. Paranjape nodded in response.
The pungent smell of the fishes, rotten vegetables, garbage, all spread and piled at the one corner of the entrance, indicated that they reached the market. "The Municipal Corporation is not pro active, when it comes to cleaning and maintenance. The garbage that has been piled up over here should have been moved to the dumping ground, according to the news article that I read last week", said Mr. Pande, but it seemed that Mr. Paranjape was not in for discussion. He heard, but didn’t reply. "From which seller should we buy the vegetables? Do you have any idea Paranjapeji?", asked Mr. Pande. "There’s no one specific in the market, Pandeji. The market is loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables every morning. All of them have fresh vegetables, it all depends whom we choose", Mr. Paranjape replied in a calm voice. Mr. Pande nodded in acceptance. They moved further, bargaining with some of the vendors for a rupee or two on every vegetable that they were about to purchase. After asking here and there for a while they decided not to waste any more time and make their final call whatever the price may be. They stalled near a vendor. Mr. Pande spoke out at first, "Give me five kilograms of potato and onion, three kilograms of tomato, half a kilogram of chilies, two kilograms of carrot, radish and cucumber" Mr. Paranjape told the vendor, "Give me fifteen kilograms of onion and potato, seven kilograms of tomato, five kilograms of cucumber, radish and carrot, all of them packed separately in different polythene but all of them in one sack. So that I can carry them easily". "Are there any guests in your house Paranjapeji? Or is there some special function?", Mr. Pande inquired. "No Pandeji, no guests and no function", Mr. Paranjape responded. "Then why are you buying so much of vegetables?", Mr. Pande asked him. But, Mr. Paranjape didn’t reply, as he found that the sack that he ordered was ready. He asked one of those boy working over there to carry their sack till the point where the vehicle was parked. Mr. Pande carried his own bag, Mr. Paranjape helped him to hold one of his two bags. They walked in silence till the vehicle. While walking, Mr. Pande thought, 'What on earth could be the reason for buying so many of vegetables? There are no guests, no function, even there are only three members in his family. At our home we're five, but this much is enough for a week'. Mr. Paranjape took out a twenty rupees note and tried to give it to that boy, but to his surprise he refused. He gave a smile and then went back to his shop. Mr. Paranjape asked Mr. Pande that can he drive the car, in response Mr. Pande handed over the keys to Mr. Paranjape.
Mr. Paranjape was driving at a normal speed. Both of them didn't speak from the moment they left the market. Mr. Pande was surprised when he found that his home was left behind, and Mr. Paranjape took ahead of the NIT college, without even looking at him. Mr. Pande was sure, that Mr. Paranjape is not one of those who forget things easily. He remained quiet. From the next square, Mr. Paranjape took right turn and then drove around a hundred meters straight ahead and then took left turn. There was a board outside. Mr. Pande wasn’t able to recognize what was written on that board, but soon he saw a few children playing Lagori.
It wasn’t a school but it appeared like a school. Mr. Paranjape halted the vehicle near a tree. He turned off the engine and got out of the car. Mr. Pande followed. Mr. Paranjape tried to take out the sack himself, but he wasn’t able to. Watching this, Mr. Pande offered him help. They carried the sack where, Mr. Paranjape was directing. They reached the kitchen. They kept the sack in one corner.
"Thank you so much Paranjapeji!", said a female voice from behind. "Oh its nothing, at least nothing in front of what I earn". "It’s more than enough Paranjapeji. I haven’t came across a human like you, till this point of my life, who cares about these children, as if they’re his own", said the female. Mr. Paranjape smiled. Mr. Pande turned his gaze upon those children, who were still playing. Without even thinking for a moment, he went up to his car. He took those two bags of vegetables and kept them to the same location where the sack was kept. Mr. Paranjape was waiting for him near the car.
This time Mr. Pande drove the car. Mr. Paranjape saw Mr. Pande, it appeared to him that he was serious about something. He looked outside. He chose to not to speak.
'I wouldn’t have donated those vegetables, if Paranjapeji would have not. I wouldn’t have visited this place ever in my life, if Paranjapeji would have not. I wouldn’t even have gave it a thought, if Paranjapeji would have not', thought Mr. Pande. He saw Mr. Paranjape, he was still looking outside, lost in his own beautiful world.
We believe charity has only one form : MONEY. No! it has different forms in practical world. Take some time and try to find out the meaning of this word. Think for a while about those orphans, they live in a place, where they don’t have the basic facilities, let alone food. Even if we start save a single penny everyday, it will pile up to 365 rupees in a year. Go to a nearby grocery store. Buy glucose biscuits costing only five bucks per pack, you will be having 73 biscuit packs. Try donating this to any Charitable Institute or any person who's in need and see the happiness on their faces and later in your heart. Never think they wont accept it, they will, because they don’t count on numbers, its the generosity that they see. They respect every single penny that they receive. I narrated Mr. Paranjape's incident, why? He’s one of those who wont care what world might think and is playing his part silently. Even we can do that. Donate something and see how good it feels. You'll be proud of yourself!
ความคิดเห็น