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Tape a tale -II

There is a man in the vicinity who in his ordinariness remains an unique being. I often cross paths with him and most of the days I see him carry buckets of water. It seems he has been measuring his life through those water buckets. He is always dressed in tatters but  has those pair of eyes which reflect his innocence. I can see a sufferer in him.

I have always wanted to know about him but never could master the courage to confront him, I didn't want him to grow conscious of my presence so I kept on observing him. It's been days of crossing his path on my way to the college and  he has begun to pass on smiles of recognition. He came up to me some days back  and inquired if I wanted to buy "dhekia" ( edible fern) from him and he wanted just five rupees for it. I bought it paying him some amount extra and he thanked me profusely. I could see his eyes twinkle and that filled my heart with a strange sense of satisfaction.

I got to know about his story from the villagers. He was an outcast and that was the reason I saw him carry water almost every day because he was not allowed access to draw water from his neighbors. My heart moved for him but I knew he wouldn't ever like to talk to me about it.

I had made up my mind to make small talks with him the next time I cross paths with him and there he was, struggling to balance dripping water buckets. I stopped to inquire if he had anything to sell today and he gave a coy smile stating that he was sorry but he couldn't manage to get anything. I said that was okay and off he went his way.

I stood there looking at him and I could feel my heart weigh heavy, ah those buckets had holes in them and most of the water in it dripped away midway. And he again walked a mile or so to refill those buckets. He seemed to wait for a Godot who could put his life to ease but Beckett was very right to put in at the end that Godot never comes but none the less the wait keeps on prolonging. The faith that someone at the end would turn up to give a better ending to things keeps people moving. His dripping buckets talk of his life which is slipping off time. But there he is everyday wearing his innocent smile , balancing his life over those dripping buckets of water!


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