The other evening, my friend and I were in her veranda - talking about this and that - and her farm hand walked in. He had finished his day's work. As my friend got him his tea, she told him, "Heard that your son's post has been made permanent. Now, you should think of getting him married".
That was all the opening he needed - to pour out his opinions, quite oblivious to the presence of a stranger.
"What 'permanent' akka. With his Rs.7,000 per month income, I'll have to look around for a girl who earns at least that much. Otherwise, how can he manage?
Just see...both of us leave home at around 8.15 in the morning. While my work place is at a walkable distance, he spends Rs.20 one way as bus fare.Then, amidst work, I have proper lunch, tea,...& walk back home, in time to do some chores there. For this, I earn about Rs.6,000 per month (Farm hands in these parts are paid Rs.200 - Rs.300 per day, plus meals). I save whatever remains after spending for the usual daily needs.
Look at my son - no proper meals, only what he takes in his lunch box. Coffee/ tea means extra expenses. Once again, he has to spend for the return journey. Often, he has so much work load, that to finish it, he has to bring office work, home & he cannot save money at all.
These days, after learning four letters, people think that it is beneath them to hold a spade. I may be a coolie and my son may be working in an office, but, often, I feel that I'm better off than him".
Saying so, he rinsed his tumbler at the tap nearby, kept it at its usual place, said 'NaaLe barteeni ' (I'll come tomorrow) and walked homewards.
The farm hand's little speech had triggered a series of thoughts in both of us. We waited till he was out of sight and had a chat about it! Both of us agreed that he had a few valid points there. We appreciated his attitude towards his vocation and left it at that.
This morning, I was tearing out yesterday's date from the calendar on my desk. As usual, I ran an absent-minded eye over the sentence at the bottom. It said, 'There are no menial jobs, only menial attitudes'......it reminded me of that evening at my friend's place.
That was all the opening he needed - to pour out his opinions, quite oblivious to the presence of a stranger.
"What 'permanent' akka. With his Rs.7,000 per month income, I'll have to look around for a girl who earns at least that much. Otherwise, how can he manage?
Just see...both of us leave home at around 8.15 in the morning. While my work place is at a walkable distance, he spends Rs.20 one way as bus fare.Then, amidst work, I have proper lunch, tea,...& walk back home, in time to do some chores there. For this, I earn about Rs.6,000 per month (Farm hands in these parts are paid Rs.200 - Rs.300 per day, plus meals). I save whatever remains after spending for the usual daily needs.
Look at my son - no proper meals, only what he takes in his lunch box. Coffee/ tea means extra expenses. Once again, he has to spend for the return journey. Often, he has so much work load, that to finish it, he has to bring office work, home & he cannot save money at all.
These days, after learning four letters, people think that it is beneath them to hold a spade. I may be a coolie and my son may be working in an office, but, often, I feel that I'm better off than him".
Saying so, he rinsed his tumbler at the tap nearby, kept it at its usual place, said 'NaaLe barteeni ' (I'll come tomorrow) and walked homewards.
The farm hand's little speech had triggered a series of thoughts in both of us. We waited till he was out of sight and had a chat about it! Both of us agreed that he had a few valid points there. We appreciated his attitude towards his vocation and left it at that.
This morning, I was tearing out yesterday's date from the calendar on my desk. As usual, I ran an absent-minded eye over the sentence at the bottom. It said, 'There are no menial jobs, only menial attitudes'......it reminded me of that evening at my friend's place.
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