Whilst walking back home I saw a lean bearded young man nodding his head to the music he was hearing through his ear plugs . He was whistling to himself and at the same time grinding the hand pedal of his cycle, specially fashioned for people with orthopedic disabilities[ probably gifted by the govt or an actor ] steering it towards the waste paper shop situated at the corner of my street. He had attached a cart to this cycle and it was filled with plastic covers and all such rags and rubbish that could be sold.
His hair was neatly combed and his clothes were clean .He overtook me and greeted the shopkeeper cheerfully ,before commencing on the transactions.
I wondered at at his ability to pick all those rubbish and cart them.His legs were withered and were as thin as match sticks . What makes him tick? What is the source of his strength and resilience? The very fact that he is striving to stand on his own legs though in reality he has none, is inspiring as well as touching.
I often see a stout man with trunk like limbs ,with dirtily bandaged ankles , begging and badgering devotees for money in a nearby temple,pointing to his bandaged legs .I have also seen him lunge and chase a devotee who ignored his heckling and questioned the rationale behind his begging , when he looked as fit as fiddle.
He also acquired this contraption recently and it is business as usual the only difference is that he is now begging , seated on this cycle as regally as one seated on a throne!
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