The Namesake, Just for

The heat was quite oppressive and I just wished we would be home soon. We had already closed the windows and had the air conditioner in full blast, yet I was sweating and so was Kia, my baby. My son, Abhishek too kept reminding my husband that he was thirsty and needed more juice. Then came the traffic intersection, the signal had just turned red and we sat fidgeting in the car waiting for the blasted thing to turn green. Out of the corner of my eyes i spotted her, a sickly, ragged girl or woman, I could never be sure. She was short, flat chested with very thin hands. Many celebrities would have given a limb to be that thin, I thought witha hint of guilt. Her eyes were expressionless (sounds cliched but I cant describe it any better). She had a rag of a cloth on her head, a very futile attempt on her part to protect herself from the sun. She had a bundle of something tied up in front of her. As she came closer, I realised it was a baby, could be the same age as my daughter, I thought shuddering (again cliched, I guess, but cant help it). The baby never stirred, seemed to be peacefully asleep amidst the all the noise from cars, trucks around it. Could be drugged, as I remembred an article I had read not too long ago. Could be rented out by its mother to this girl/woman for her livelihood. 'How cruel', i thought, "But was there another option?" I asked myself. And fell silent. She had her hand stretched out and tried to convince me of her need. I shrugged, looked at the signal, still red and few more seconds to go. I nudged my husband and showed him the waiting girl. He sighed and dug in his pocket brought out a coin and gave it to me. I opened the window just a little, not to let the hot air blow in and gave her the coin. She gave a salaam and walked on to the next car and I was quite quick to close the window. I noticed with a another shock that she was barefoot. And then I thought all those'religeous' buffs/devotees competing each other to walk over smouldering coals. "Ooh what an adventure! what a way to please some idols. Was this woman not pleasing enough? I wondered. Finally the signal turned green and we moved on, thankfully. I didnt have the heart to loook back at the woman but a thought still lingered...Why was I not in her place? Then I thnaked God (selfishly) for where He had placed me and brought me up...A light breeze of sympathy which would soon die out and gve place to a faded memory cropped up within me for that forlorn creation of God.