"Empty little stomachs dancing happily on the rhythmic beats of hunger"

                                         

                                 
Suddenly the train stopped, jerking all its passengers’ to-and-fro in utmost hustle-bustle.

..."Bang".... my head goes on the cold frosty glass-window of the train.

It was a wintry cold morning and clouds of dewy fog blitzed the atmosphere with the smell of cold freshness. And one could feel the cool refreshing fragrance of the morning fog entering their nose unrestricted. Sun as usual, could hardly find His way amid all this confusion.

                                     

And I, as a happy going lark sipping my favorite cappuccino cleared the fog on my window to get a cool glimpse of splendid morning sunshine. My eyes rolled in all direction and I cherished every bit of nature for its vibrant beauty and colors.

But, a midst all this, suddenly my eyes fell on a group of small little kids of nearby villages, outside my train.

                                   

Those little young boys were wrapped in tethered clothes on that damn cold wintry morning. They were laughing and dancing in full excitement. But too much of my amazement, I was not able to understand why these poor little kids were so happy.

I was really fantasized by this charismatic scene. And in a strong attempt to find the real mystery, I strained my eyes once again on those happy tiny creatures. I was not able to see them clearly as fog was thick and intense. But still, I attempted hard to catch their slightest glimpse.

And what I saw was really touching and it nearly brought tears in my eyes.

You all must be wondering, why one would cry on seeing other's happy.....??....

But the real reason for my tears was those little young kids dancing happily in excitement.

                                     

Yes, my friends.

The little kids who were anxiously waiting for our train to stop.

And to much of my amazement the moment our train came to a halt they just ran towards us excitedly.

But why these tiny tots were running towards our train...??

Why there is so much enthusiasm in their poor little hearts...??..

What they are looking for...??...

Such topsy-turvy questions just perplexed my mind from all directions.

But in no delay I got all my answers........

                                   

“Intense hunger” and “acute starvation” is causing these kids to behave in such a way.

...Believe me..!!...

These acute waves of "hunger" and "starvation" created rhythmic beats of happiness in them when they see empty wrappers of food items, chips, wafers, lays and left-over’s, etc. thrown out of the train windows by the train kitchen crew and passengers travelling in the train.

And the moment, those colorful empty wrappers and litter is thrown out of the window-panes. They come all the way running in a strong hope that today the hunger in their burning empty- little stomachs would surely be satisfied. They then turn those empty wrappers upside down in utmost haste, in a hope to satisfy their appetite with the left-out tiniest bits of food and chips in them.

And if by chance in their hunger hunt, they get a slightest left over in those thrown-out empty packets. Then they just pounce upon it and end up sharing even the tiniest bit among each other. And the moment these tiny food bits touched their flickering tongues, they rejoiced that short-lived flavors by dancing to the rhythmic beats of hunger in absolute joy and happiness. The scene seems as if they at last, got a victory for which they were fiercely waiting for so long.

Their twinkling little eyes touched my heart and soul to the core. And it was that day when I truly realized the importance of even the tiniest bit of food. What I felt was, this was not only the matter of few hungry stomachs but it indirectly puts a question on the entire humanity.

Yes, humanity my friend.

I want to ask you what kind of inhuman world we are creating. Why can’t we give away a part of our luxuries to those who needed it the most? Why we have become so insensitive, ruthless and cruel in our outlooks. Where have our humanity gone away? Why can’t we see pain in the eyes of these poor little souls waiting for relief? What a disgusting ugly scene? I must say.

Is it humanity or cruelty...?? I ask you...

Why can't this hunger, this intense starvation can be curbed completely.....??....

Why a small little child is made to sleep empty stomach at night ...??..

Why their innocent childhoods are spent in finding tiniest bits of food in those empty thrown out packets....??..

Are they not humans...?? ...or

Are we not humans….??...

Thus, this is a matter of utter disgust and society as a whole is responsible for it. Unfortunately, rich is becoming richer and poor is becoming poorer. And seeing such saddening sight, I hit my fist on the glass in sheer disgust and decided to provide the slightest little help I can provide to those hungry little kids.

I quickly opened my green little bag and instantly, took out all the unpacked food items, fruits, lays, some chocolates, biscuits, cookies and muffins I was carrying for this long journey. I hurriedly, put all these items in small poly-bag and ran towards the train exit door. I could feel my heart dabbing against its wall at full pace.

And the moment, I leaned against the door to give that food polythene in my hand to those hungry little angles, they just ran towards me. They all came near the door and controlling their breaths asked me in full excitement.

“Is it for us Didi Ji....” ??....

And I just nodded smilingly......

Then they without much adieu took the poly-bag and hurriedly opened it. And the moment they opened the poly-bag, they were all amazed at the scene as this time what they saw was unusual.

Unpacked filled new food packets instead, of thrown away empty packets which they collect from garbage daily.

And, on seeing those filled packets tears rolled down their eyes and they gladly showered all kind of blessings on me which I could feel from their glittery little eyes staring me continuously in full thankfulness.

They once again danced happily......but this time not on the rhythmic beats of hunger but on the hip-hop beats of happy little hearts......ha-ha..!!.

Once again the engine blew its last whistle and train jerked me hard but this time what matters me most was not the beautiful wintry sky outside but those happy little hearts waving good-bye to me in full pace.

I too waved to them in full response till their sight once again got lost in that thick fog of starvation ......waiting for next train to pass through their way,,,,,,

                                       

Author : Deepshikha Gupta