Meet Mr. Young & Wise!!

Yuvan (Young) Vivek (Wise) could be another name f

or this Prem (Love) Babu (Gentleman).  I made him cross the street and stand under a street lamp to get this picture, since old iPhone does not have a flash. Notice the sweat around his neck.  And then think of the wise words of this young man!!  Richer than the richest people in the world!

Its a thursday and we have our legendary Veer (thursday) bazaar!!   So, its a ritual to there and have Chole Bhatures.  We avoid many a times, since it is not the healthiest of meal, but the vendor in our Thursday market is very famous.  

I have two stories from thursday market (this time around, otherwise, I have many stories from Thursday market).  But this happened today!! 

Mom and I were returning after our little visit and two small bags filled with snacks--when I flagged down a rickshaw puller.

'Bhaiya (brother, as we call them), we need to go at the end of the road, about 60 meters'  He smiled and stopped.  A young man of about 20 years.

I whispered to my mom, I won't come with you, I will walk.  I do not want to burden him.

'How much?' we asked.

'Ten rupees' he said. 'About 15 US cents'

My 'Mom's knees hurt and she had had her walk for the day.  I preferred to walk.

Mom insisted that I get on the rickshaw as well, as she did not want to go alone.

Less than a minute later when we got off, I patted him on the arm and said, 'You did a kind thing.'  Usually rickshaw pullers can decline if it is late or too short a run, since they do not make a profit.

'Oh, I always agree when I see someone in need.' He said with a casual smile. 

'Dhanyavaad, Thankyou I nodded.'

'Where are you from?' I asked, as I always do, because I genuinely care about where they come from, what they do, how they make a living. 

'MP-Madhya Pradesh' (central Indian state)', he said.  

And then he answered my follow up questions.

'We own land in the village.  All my siblings work on the farm.  I come here for a few months and then go back to join them when more work is needed on the farm. I studied a little, but I know much about farming. I live near the metro station.'

'Nice, will you please promise to help my mom, whenever you see her, sometimes she has a hard time finding rickshaw puller?'

'Oh, I will always. I do always, whenever I see an elderly person.'

And then, he turned towards my mom and said, 'And do not even worry about money, the man above gives us a lot, and will give us a lot, so long as we have the blessings of elderly people'  (In Hindi, the word for elderly is something that will translate into 'big' --'bada' not old, but big, and is used with reverence).

I patted him again on the shoulder.  'Beta, (son), what is your name?' I asked.

'Prem Babu' (Love--Gentleman)

'Arre Wah, Oh wow', I said.  But you should be called 'Yuvan Vivek -Young and Wise' I thought!

As we walked inside the house, I thought to myself, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT MISSIONARIES WANT TO CONVERT TO CHRISTIANITY AND BRING THEM TO LIGHT.' (They usually target poor working class people). 

THINK ABOUT IT!!