Paradigm Shift

I saw her two days ago in a Borivali bound train. I had left early from office that day and was waiting for a train back home at Vile Parle station. As soon as the train arrived I got in and stood at the sides of the entrance. Just then I caught a glimpse of a frail looking lady getting in(It was moderately crowded). I peered over the shoulders of the ladies to get a good look at her and more so was concerned about her and hoped she get a place to sit. Suddenly, my attention was drawn towards five-six bunches of colorful bracelets in her hand each group neatly arranged in steel rings. As the train started moving, (it stood at the vile parle station for good three- four minutes) she began selling them, Dus rupiya Dus rupiya....I was almost spell bound when I saw this image. Each time she said Dus rupiya she was almost out of breath at the end of it, yet she started each one of it with power and vigour...it was almost as if she was chanting.Her voice was frail like her body but her words were strong and exuded determination. I was keenly observing her from afar.

She had worn a Gujarati nylon saree properly tucked in, had tied her hair in pony tail and then tied up the pony tail with a clip, she had also tied up her glasses at the back of her head. She carried a cloth satchel and wore decent chappals. She came back towards the door and stood beside me. No one in the compartment had purchased from her and even I stood there just looking at her, thinking, observing and analyzing. I came back from my trance and fiddled with my bag and purse to find a ten ruppees note. In the meanwhile another lady standing at the door who was looking at her with the same admiring look in her eyes that I must have had; purchased two bracelets from her. In fact, many ladies in the compartment were looking at the her and thinking(just like me I guess) till the time that we all were dead silent and all we could hear was 'Our' lady's high pitched Dus rupiya which faded out towards the end. By now all the women in the adjacent compartment too had seen and heard her through the steel bars which separated the two compartments.  'Our' lady was getting ready to get down at jogeshwari station. Women at the door tried to help her by supporting her to alight the train when the train reached the station but she refused and said she will manage. She got down and got into the adjacent compartment.

I realized I had missed a chance to help her out.I did'nt find a ten ruppees note all I had were denominations of 50 and 100.Here again I started thinking to myself we give away money in charity at temples and pilgrimages..but today when I had witnessed this human with God-like power and aura I did nothing, did'nt even pay my respects to her. I felt a strong connect with her. As I came back from my thoughts I was searching for her again in the other compartment and was delighted to see the events which unfolded. The ladies were pouring in to buy her bracelets some wanted 10, some wanted 20 it was amazing, I guess she must be overwhelmed too by this response. Still, I was filled with deep regret that I could not help in any way.

I was supposed to get down at Malad, my station was nearing and I saw she was about to get down at Malad too. I was getting another chance. As soon as I got down I saw her getting down and walking but lost sight of her in the crowd. I started walking in her direction to find her. Frantically searching for her...then I saw her at a distance, sitting on a wooden bench. I almost sprinted towards her, reached her and touched her feet.

I told her to bless me so that I can be as powerful as she is. She smiled and touched my head gently and ever so lovingly told me (in Gujarati)...taari badhi manokaamna puri thaay (may all your wishes come true), she just blessed a complete stranger with so much honesty and love at that moment, I made her my Idol. I also told her I wanted some of her beautiful bracelets I gave her Rs.100 but took only three..she was almost agitated and insisted I take 7 more since I payed 100. Thats when I started talking to her about where she lived, about her family, her kids, her choice to work like this she said she stays at Nalasopara, she had lost her husband one month after her marriage and does not have kids.She is now living with her brother and sister-in-law. She had decided to earn and take care of herself rather than be dependant on anyone.She has been selling bracelets in trains ever since and has been at it for 60 years now. To sum it up, im in awe of this Lady not because she chose to work at this ripe age of 81 to make ends meet but because of the vigour and valour with which she lives her life with her head held high. I noticed she is head-strong, brave, full of self respect, smart, confident without a hint of self-pity I can almost pass her off as an entrepreneur who emerged out of an adversity because she chose to take control of her life and her mind and become independent rather than curse her life and while away in misery. Her impression will always stay in my mind, as a women with a strong, illustrious and divine spirit. While leaving she said something which will stay with me for life.She said you are educated you can do much more than what I am doing.You can be much more powerful don't ever limit yourself to your present circumstances.

She will always be my HERO!!
'Our' lady: Kamlaben Mehta