My Travel Diaries - The Smiling Uncle

This happened once!

Hello dear friends,

This is an other excerpt from my Travel diary- a page from the solo adventures I have bee on. Please feel free to comment. You can also reach me at [email protected].

The traffic in Mumbai is unbearable. And if it's Juhu, better to be left unsaid. Here I was enjoying an off day between two meetings. I rented a scooty and just tried to ride around the city. As usual I was hungry, so a place to eat was what my eyes were searching for.

The time was around 6.00 PM. I decided to avoid the heat. I took the Juhu Tara road en route Beach road. It was a Saturday so the traffic seemed less bothering than the previous evening.

I stopped at a Tender Coconut Shop and ordered one. It is one of the few items we can have at any place and at any time since food adulteration has not affected it yet.

While I was sucking the water with the straw, I saw something across the street. There was an old man standing with a board. I couldn't read what was written but there were a few people standing there and passing comments. I finished my health drink and walked quickly, out of curiosity.

The man was nearing seventies, from his look and wrinkles. He had a beard and was smiling throughout. The board was in Marathi (local Mumbai language). I was a little disappointed. Thanks to Google Translate, I opened the App and captured the board.

It read something like this " Sorry I don't have anything to sell. But if someone hugs me, I will smile for the next 30 minutes. "

Seeing me awestruck, one bystander announced, "Arrey he is a mad dog! why you are wasting time?"

I went a hugged the old man. we didn't have any conversations, no words - just a hug. I think it lasted for 2 minutes, may be more than that! He was smiling as I took my hands off. I also gave him some money. May be he is mad. I agree because this is not something the 'matured' humans will do. After a long time I met one who knows the value of smile, who values it more than currencies.

He might have smiled for the next 30 min, but this young chap got something to smile about for his entire life.

Love

Vin



Reviews

[barleygirl]

Your storytelling has grown by leaps & bounds. This is a great story! The things you show about human nature in your stories is what makes you unique . . . this is more about the way you see the world, than about how you write. But now your writing is catching up with your astute observations of the world & this makes a powerful combination. I love how you've slowed down to include a ton of vivid details to immerse your reader in the scene. I totally felt this, both on the physical level (how it felt to be there) & also on the emotional level (what you want to impart about humanity). When I was first losing my ability to walk at age 55-ish, someone came up to me & hugged me on the street as I was struggling along on my cane & this hug meant the world to me, still remembering after eight years! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Fairy Khan]

I love your simple way of storytelling.

[Vin]

Thank U Fairy. How's life ?

[Fairy Khan]

Everything's good. Thanks.

[Coyote Poetry]

A wonderful story shared Vin. Happy people make us happy. Your uncle sound like a amazing person. Thank you for sharing the outstanding story.
Coyote