On a usual Sunday morning, I had to go to our favorite local shop Matri Varities, not only ours, the shop is favorite of the entire locality and the reason behind this is the half bald uncle who runs the shop is so decent, and makes his staff work in flow (i guess no other local shops do that) people love to go to buy things from uncle and of course the shop is very well stocked with most of the stuff a person need for daily life.
So, this morning, I crossed the deserted road (as its Sunday) and reach Matri Shop which was already over flooded by customers. But, I am a very determined person as you know. I made my way through the crowd and touched the front row and felt like a victory. I told him " Uncle ek packet bread aur ek frozen corn ka chota packet bhi". As I already said this guy knows how to handle crowd and fulfill everyone wishes without making them angry for waiting, I got my stuff in next 4 minutes. In those 4 minutes he also served an old aged man who came for a pack of Soupy noodles, a middle aged women who came for 4 packets of milk and 2 packets of bread and also dealt with a guy who forgot why he came to the shop!
After getting the bread I stepped out of the shop then I see a women, (around 55 years) took a packet of milk (which is usually kept in front of the shop due to heavy rush on Sundays) and hidden it under her pallu and mixed in the crowd like she came there to buy something and I was standing there too shocked to understand whats going on!
This never happened with me before, it is not very unusual to see a poor kid or some guy doing this but a Lady, wearing such decent clothes and looked so well mannered from a reputed household! After harldy 30 seconds she came out of the shop and very calmly left the shop with the milk packet still hiding in her hands inside the pallu. I was just standing there, watching her go home without any guilt or fear. A thought came in my mind, I should inform uncle about this, right now! But i don't know what stopped me!
She just flew away so easily and I still don't understand why would she do that? Is her family in in poor financial conditions? Well, didn't looked like that, and even if it is, you don't steal stuff. How many times has she done that before? Come on! money is not that easy to earn, uncle opens his shop early morning at 6:30 , don't you think he also needs some extra sleep on a Sunday. Have she ever thought about his kids who would be wanting to spend the Sunday with their father. He sacrifice everything so he could earn some extra bucks and fulfill needs of his family, he is doing this because he knows that no other shop opens at this time, at least not on Sunday, he care for people. And you do this to him? You steal his property, how difficult is it pay Rs. 14 ? I was so angry on her that I wanted to scream out "Hey you, stop right there, I seen you stealing". I have no idea why I did not stop her or at least tell uncle that look she is stealing.
But then my mind raced the other side of the coin. Is there child in her home who needs milk and may be she don't have enough money or her husband/son don't give him the amount to feed the little boy. Is she doing this so she can get money from her son/ husband for milk and keep the money with herself because she needs it and his son don't give her any money. Did she do it just out of habit which she picked up when she was actually in a very bad financial health! Whatever is the reason, stealing is not the answer, Aunty!
I kept watching her as she faded into the road far away. My mind was too occupied to say anything. I still don't have answers. Humanity is going down each day, and may it was a no big deal for many people out there, I know things like this happens.. everyday. It was.. to me!
