HAPPY NEW YEAR

Dear world,  

Another year ends. And here I am, shivering in the cold, hungry and exhausted, wondering what the New Year will bring. More hunger? More fatigue? More despair?

I can see a mother at the traffic light. She is tapping on the windowpanes of those fancy cars, hoping to attract a few coins, or if she annoys the owner enough, maybe a ten-rupee note flung on her face to make her go away and leave the occupant to continue chatting on that dinky cell phone.

            I can see a young sister and brother are fast asleep on the pavement near the old laundry. They do not know who their father is—they have never seen him. From the time I can remember, I have seen the mother living on this street and watched her beg. She has taught her child to beg, too.

I can see a young sick brother tied to a sisters’ waist in a sling made out of rags, and carrying him from car to car asking for alms.

I can see a mother telling her 14 year old daughter to cover herself when she begs, since men stare at her and make dirty jokes. She tells her not to talk to any man. She also beats her a lot if she sees her chatting with customers who come to the laundry to pick up their clothes. It is dangerous, she says, and she doesn’t understand.

I can see a Dad, who has managed to get a few caps and whistles for his child not to play with but to sell at the next traffic junction where there are young people on motorcycles. I can see him teaching her child to clap, laugh and scream ‘Happy New Year’ each time a car stops. I can hear them practicing —‘Happy New Year’.

I am sure that someone somewhere will hear their prayers and wish them the same, too. God is great!

HAPPY NEW YEAR