Nila!

It was a hot summer and the mercury had reached the point where meteorological department would love to announce it as the highest temperature of the day. People were running for air and water. Everyone felt the heat except the little Nila. She glimmered under the hot sun light. She didn’t seem to be exhausted instead she moved from one car to another car asking the drivers” brother! Buy one cleaning cloth for your car.” She even pleaded them. No sign of kindness and no one were willing to buy it from the little Nila. But, she didn’t lose heart. She went on to the next driver and to the next. Some even have closed the window glass after seeing her. Some said “go away! I don’t need it!” Some didn’t mind her asking and were busy with their own work.

“Damn! I hate summer! Just look at me Naresh, i’m sweating and if I squeeze my shirt, I guess you could fill your water can” said the frustrated Vasanth to his driver. The driver laughed and looked at the signal. It was still red.

The road was a total mess. Horns were blowing, people were shouting at one another, some yelled at the traffic signal and some switched off the engines and were staring at the red light. Some even had raised their vehicle’s throttle and annoyed the people around them. Mess dear god! It was a total mess. Cars and two wheelers were parked and looked like scattered spare parts from the top view. Rules are meant to be broken and this traffic congestion was not an exception. In that traffic congestion, Nila was moving fast and she was determined to cover all the vehicles within that signal span. She hurried from one car to the other pleading to every being inside the car.

Vasanth peeked out of the window to get some air but it was a failed experiment. He had only felt the hot air that flashed from the vehicle standing in front of his car as the driver raised the throttle. Frustrated Vasanth squealed and sat inside. His rolling eyes started to move from one place to the other and stopped after seeing a little kid hurrying from one car to the other in-order to sell the pack of cleaning clothes she had. His kind eyes wanted to help her.

He shouted,” hey kiddo! ”

Nila turned immediately and started running towards him. Luck never favours the poor. The signal had turned green. The crossing vehicles denied her any access to the Vehicle where Vasanth was sitting.

Unwilling Vasanth said to the driver, “Naresh! She is not gonna make it. Everyone is blowing their horns. Let us go!”

But, his face was unturned and was looking at the pity kid. He muttered,” Damn signal! To hell with you!”

His disturbed mind didn’t allow him to work cleanly. His mind was revolving around the last incident before the signal. He wanted to help her by buying the cleaning cloth but fate had other ideas. Vasanth was a clean worker and swift as well. Today he looked different and wanted to get back home. He finished the work in a hurry and sat inside the car. Naresh raced through the traffic and halted before the signal. Vasanth heard someone tapping the car and turned to see the little kid standing before him. She pleaded,” brother! Can you buy now?”

Vasanth said, “With pleasure my lady!”

She gave a cloth and Vasanth gave 10 rupees in return and he gave another 10 and asked her for another cloth. Nila was ecstatic and thanked him. While leaving, Vasanth called,” hey kiddo! What’s your name?”

“Nila”

“As pretty as you! Come here”

Nila walked and stood closer to the door. Vasanth gave another 50 rupees for her and asked her to take it.

“No brother! I don’t need it. Already you made my day. Thanks.”

“Okay. Give me five cleaning clothes! I need it. Can you my lady?”

She gave five clothes. Overjoyed Nila accepted the money and thanked him. She leaned forward to thank the driver as well. He smiled back at her. Vasanth extended his conversation with her.

“What’s your dad Kiddo!”

“He is no more Brother. He is with God!”

“I’m sorry really. It must be very hard for you. Don’t you go to school?”

“Nope. I have to look after my mom as she had lost one of her legs in an accident.”

“Holy God! I’m sorry kiddo! God bless you! Take care of yourself and your mom. May God shower his love on yours!”

“Thank you brother!”

She turned and started walking. Signal turned Green and everyone accelerated their vehicles. Startled and confused over the sudden surge of noise Vasanth looked out of the window. He saw the little girl lying down after being hit by a two wheeler. The person who hit her shouted at her,” you beggar! Can’t you see i’m coming? Don’t you have eyes or is that your arrogance?”

A two wheeler stopped near Nila and a person who drove it helped the little girl to stand on her feet. She got bruises on her hand and knee. She limped towards the road side. She didn’t speak a word as tears filled up her eyes. She wiped it and limped towards a parked car and asked the driver," brother! buy one cloth. It's just 10 rupees."

The driver replied, " No!"

The man who helped the kid scolded the man who hit her. Helpless Vasanth was watching as his vehicle was moving away. Suddenly his eyes caught the sight of a new cleaning cloth inside the tank cover of the man who had helped Nila and a smooth smile spread over his face. He looked at the limping Nila till she had disappeared from his sight. The clock ticked 6 past 15; he looked at the sky and saw the round moon smiling at him. He smiled and said to himself “Good people are still wandering this earth! May God bless them!”