छोटी बातें!... छोटी-छोटी बातोंकी है, यादें बड़ी! ... भूलें नहीं! ...बीती हुई एक छोटी घडी!

I called my friend on her cell. She was probably busy, with some other work.She didn't pick my call. I was siting on the bench, in the Diamond District. Diamond District is one of the very lovely places in Bangalore.I love to roam there in the evening, just to take my mind away from the office work and to make some closeness with the nature.

As I was about to call her again, I heard, someone calling me.

"Hey, Do you know? Where is 'Dukan'?" A very beautiful young girl, of about seven years of age, asked, looking at me.

She,along with her brother, where in search of something - I guessed.Both, she and her brother were of nearly the same age. They were very fair and wasn't from India. From there accent, I thought they were British.

I went near her, knelt down, to get to her height, and asked, "Excuse me, Can you come again?"

She said, "Do you know? Where is 'Dukan'?" she was so cute and her accent was so nice, that, I wanted to hear it once again.

The word 'Dukan' puzzled me.'Dukan' is a Hindi word, it means 'A shop'.Probably her mom or dad asked her, to ask for 'Dukan' and to get some stuff.

I knew,there is one super market at the back side of the Diamond District.
"Yes, I know one 'Dukan' nearby. Would you like to come with me?" I said, as I wanted to chat with both of them.

"Yes" she said, innocently.

"Follow me" I said, happily.

While walking our way, to 'Dukan',with those little and innocent kids. I started the conversation. "What is your name? I asked her, In the greed to hear her sweet and innocent accent.

To my surprise, she replied "Yes."

"What is your name?" I repeated. I thought, she misunderstood my question.

Again, the answer was same!.

I thought, If they would have been British, She would have answered me correctly.

Still, to extend the conversation, I asked her "Is he your brother?"

"Yes" she said. I questioned myself, was this a right answer? or It happened to be the right one?.

I asked her brother, "What is your name?"

He did not reply. May be, he was too shy to speak with a stranger.

"Where are your parents?" I asked them.

Her answer was same!. "Yes.". So sweet!

"Are you taking us to 'Dukan'?" she asked me, impatiently.

"Yes" I replied.

We reached to the supermarket. They rushed into the 'Dukan', leaving me behind.

I thought, they are not Indians and are kids. should I accompany them? inside the 'Dukan'?.If they happen to purchase something worth more than what they have, I will pay the remaining amount. I wanted them, not to get disappointed, just for the want of some money. To be very honest, there was another motive in being with them. I am fond of innocence and the kids of this age. I wanted to be with them, as long as possible.

"Bye Bye." she said, turning back to me. I read "Thanks" from her eyes!

I still stepped inside the 'Dukan', she kept looking at me. From her expressions, I unnecessarily felt like, she permitted me for accompanying them.

The shopkeeper and others,inside the shop, felt like the kids were with me.

Both of them, were running inside the shop and taking irrelevant stuff, from the shelf ,and then keeping it at some other irrelevant place!. The helper staff,in the shop, got annoyed with there act, but kept the false smile on there faces, as I was accompanying them.

I wondered, If these kids happen to buy some costly stuff,then, It will only be me, who will be paying the difference, of the bill amount and the amount they carry.

I hold the decision back for the later time, in the hope that, the difference will be in my budget.I made my mind not to disappoint those innocent kids just for some money.

Finally, they made the decision on what they had to buy. They took the stuff, they wanted, and directly innocently went out of the shop!

"Heyyyy, helloooo, come inside. we have to pay the bill" As we had to scan the bar code of the items, we had purchased. I had to call them up.

The bill wasn't much. It was just 48 bucks and she gave 20 bucks to the shopkeeper!

Shopkeeper looked at me.

"Take this." I gave him 50 bucks and asked him, to return her 20 bucks, back to her.

We paid the bill and stepped out of the 'Dukan'.

"We are finished. you can go" she said very happily!.

I was very happy to be the reason for there happiness and took pride of the right decision I made, so that, those innocent kids, should not feel disappointed, just for the want of some money.

I took my cell out of the pocket, to call my friend up.

"1 Message Received" this message was flashing on my mobile screen!

I opened the message:"M in examination hall call u later n tel u evrythng k bye tk cr"



Hrishikesh Alshi