A juicy story

The sun couldn't have been brighter. It was a typical sunday. When you donned a cotton sleeveless tee and capris, perched your goggles on your nose and went to the supermarket, and to finish all odd jobs left for the weekend. As a kid, we went for fresh veggies that the villagers came to sell under the bridge. We did grow our own but Dad had to make that trip. Then I washed the car with dad and the highlight was splashing water with the long hosepipe. Sometimes there was an oil massage in winter, then a shower followed by a lovely lunch.

Anyway last sunday, it was past noon when we headed back home. I waited as hubby again stopped to buy a door handle he wanted to fix himself. My left arm was tanned dark from sitting on the left side. It was getting very hot inside the car. On the side of the road I spotted a stall, under an umbrella which hardly served the purpose of shading its owner. An earthern pot, a tall steel can, an ice box and a tray of glasses. It was a nimbu paani stall, serving chilled lime juice.

A little lad, not more than 7 years old stood behind. He squeezed juice into a glass, dropped cubes of ice from the box, sprinkled salt n spice, poured water from the can with a long handled ladle, and finally placing an empty glass upside down over the other glass, gave it a good cocktail shake. Then with a smile handed it to his thirsty customer. I saw him make several glasses. Each time he pocketed a coin. Each time he would rinse the used glass in a little bucket of water and drop the lime rinds into a plastic bag. Very meticulous.

Three tiny boys walked close and started talking to him. They hung around while he served his customers. Finally he got a little breather and poured himself a glass of water to drink. The kids looked at him longingly. I saw him raise one hand and gesture to the three little boys to wait. The next moment he dug into the plastic bag and got out used lime rinds and squeezed them again. He added ice, water and made a tall glass of juice. He halved it and handed the two glasses to the little ones. Delight beamed on their faces. They downed the glasses, wiped their faces and went their way. The 7 year old juice maker rinsed the glasses clean.

Then came a big fellow and the little one stepped aside after handing over four notes and a few coins. The big fellow counted and recounted the money. The little one stood with an outstretched hand. Finally the big fellow placed a 5 rupee note and a coin into his hand. The small guy pocketed the money and with an air of someone who has conquered the world, held up his hand to stop traffic and ran across the street.

I was fascinated. Hubby got back with the door handle and I narrated everything. "It's really sad! You mean all he got was 5 or 6 rupees for standing in the sun and making juice!!"

Now I never thought of that. The little kid looked so happy with his earnings. What particularly struck me was his kindness and his confidence. And I am very sure this is one kid who will make it big one day, very big. I wish I asked for his name.

By the way, how many of us earned anything when we were seven, or for that matter even knew how to make lime juice?