As I made an unscheduled stop on my way to the office, my mind wandered to the work that needed to be completed. I had stopped to pay the cobbler, who’s services I had used yesterday, as my shoes needed some stitches. The work was quick and neat, the charges for the same was Rs. 5/-
I searched hard in my pockets for the necessary change and asked him whether he could break my Rs.50/- As I expected, he could not. I asked him whether I could pay him the next day, and he nodded his head even without lifting to look at me. So, here I am now, to repay my debt. But, I was surprised to see a small crowd gathered at his road side make shift tent. I made my way through, only to find out that, the old cobbler had breathed his last sometime during the night.
I was in a dilemma; should I pay to his relative? But alas!, he had none. Not sure what to do, I decided to leave.
Just then I heard someone in the crowd say, “Only last night he came by my shop
for a plate of iddlies,”; I presumed that the person must be running a eatery nearby, “but I refused to serve him.”, continued the owner, “If only I had been a little considerate this sad tragedy could have been avoided” he lamented.
I became curious and pressed for more, “He enquired whether he could pay the next day for a plate of iddlies, as he was Rs.5/- short”. A bolt went through my spine. I stared at the coin now sitting on my desk, for a long time as a gush of emotions went through me. How many lifes? Frantically I searched through my drawers and collected all the loose change I had tossed away and never even noticed their presence until now. Rs.37/- in all. Lifes?? I do not know.