I'll never forget this day in my life, it was 12th December 2014. The month in which we worry about where to go on New year's eve, how to celebrate etc. But what happened to me was an experience, an encounter with reality that changed my mind forever.
So I went to this Government bank for some work regarding my account, we all know how government banks employee are, I'm not saying all of them are the same but the majority goes with rude, frustrated, damn slow employees. They made me stand for a while, I waited patiently because anger or attitude in such places only makes it worse. These two ladies were too slow and giggling around working and gossiping in between. Recently Jan Dhan Yojna was launched so I saw many poor people come in and bank employees treated them like slaves, "bola na baad me aana" "Abhi tak yahin khadi hai, nikal yha se" "is form me yhan ye kaun likhega" and the guard was like "aye kahan Ja rha h" and many more lines were said to them as if they all are terrorist or some species that don't deserve to have a bank account.
One lady politely told me to wait for 10 minutes. I sat on the chair, and at least 6-7 illiterate and very poor people came to me one by one asking me to fill in the slip which is used to deposit money. They had cash like 10rs and 50rs notes mostly. Amounts were 500, 600, 1500, and 2000 at most. I filled out their slips and they thanked me. I felt so good. This was the first time I could feel the emotions behind their simple thanks ( they didn't say thanks literally but they folded hands, smiled, and babuji, sir was used to addressing me) I was happy for them.
After an hour (they told me 10 minutes), I was still waiting. Then a guy appeared, he was nearly 38 or something, he was wearing a jacket that was torn from several places his trouser was very loose his belt was tightened so that the trouser doesn't slip away, his hair was messy, he was sweating, probably he walked or ran from quite a distance. He came to me and asked me to fill out the slip, the time was 3:45pm. He showed me an ID card, and to fill in the name that's on the card, he was working as a field laborer at a factory. I filled in the slip the money was 6500, I counted and sent him to the counter.
The madam at the counter was a girl 24-25 I guess. She straight away told him to go back as the time for transactions is over, and she can't submit money now. The guy with swollen eyes begged her to submit the money, he told her that his daughter in Bihar is very sick and needed medical attention, government hospital ain't helping. She still said no but the guy kept insisting and finally burst into tears, seeing this the girl said "Karlo emotional tum" and finally took the money.
The guy returned to me after the transaction, he sat near me, not on the chair but on the floor, I requested him to sit on the chair beside me but he refused and sat on the ground in a squatting position. He said folding his hands "babuji dhanybad, meri bachi bimar h, Ghar paise bhejne the, tankha 8000 boli thi sahib ne par keh rhe the pf k paise or in kapdo ko paise kaat k 6500 milenge is mahine, Subah se mang rha tha ab Jake 5900 diye, 600 rupe mene bacha k rakhe the wo mila k paise Ghar bhejen hain, dua krna Bachi k liye, bhgwan apko khush rkhe"
English Translation, "Sir thank you so much, my daughter is very sick, and my salary was decided 8000, but they said I will get 6500 after deducting pf and these clothes compensation, after asking too many times since morning he handed me 5900, rest 600 was my savings that I'm sending along, please pray for my daughter, god bless you"
And then he walked away, and many hours later, I was thinking about his problems and his family. This was the first time I learned how much a 10rs note matters to them, I smoke 8-10 cigarettes in a day and 1 cigarette costs me 10rs. My salary is 4 times his and I'm just 23. My dad and my sister are working and they earn way more than me. I've luxuries like vehicles, guards at home, my own house, and a job in an MNC.
I realized how blessed I am and how hard these people work. I have no right to be sad just because I couldn't get a ticket to a movie, or I missed my favorite TV show, or my phone battery dying too soon.
I learned life didn't give you everything you wanted. But it already gave you what you need.
So, I request you all to help people in need and appreciate what you already have.
