Punch on my back

22nd May, 2016

I was on my way to hospital to visit my maternal aunt. It was the footpath in front of Kathmandu Mall I had to pass by and that's the footpath where many handicapped, unwanted and helpless people stay trying their best to collect money from passer by to join their hands to mouth. I was in a hurry. I walked that way quite often and I didn't stop to drop any penny to any of them. I just had my breathe held on my throat when all of a sudden, a boy of around 9 years old tightly held my hand and pleaded me for money with much anger and hunger in his face. I couldn't decide what I should be doing next. His hands were tighter than before, and I was shaken with all the strength those hands had. More than pity, his activities made me ignore his pleading, and hence I tried walking away. As I did, I sighed a relief. But no sooner had I sighed a breathe of relief, I got a hard punch on my back that I nearly fell down on the ground. I saw it was the same 9 years old boy who held me. I wondered how he had so much power in his lean hands. But I was clear about the reason of the punch, I didn't think twice about it. He just ran after to another passerby and I couldn't decide if I had to go back to him, apologize and give him some money or I had to go back to him, give a little lecture and help him get out of being in rage to harm someone... I just headed towards the hospital to my maternal aunt...

Picture Source: Kristian Bertel Photography http://www.kristianbertel.dk/archive/boy-begging-in-new-delhi.html
**representative image **