Lost

On my way back from Chennai after my short break mid-term, I was in the Central Railway
Station. I was purchasing a Pista roll in Ananda bhavan as an after dinner snack when I
saw this young kid (about 6-7 years old) crying and walking here and there. There was half
of me that felt, "ok so the kid is crying, and it is none of my business, his parent is
probably around or the kid knows his way around". There was this other half of me that
felt that something is wrong. I felt that the kid was missing his parent.

Maybe he felt that I am a stranger and hence he chose not to answer me, but he kept crying
and was walking here and there. I had a lot of time left for my train and so I decided to
follow him just in case. On the way I tried speaking to a few people in uniform (both
railway and regular police) informing them that this kid is going here and there and
seems lost. They showed a slight amount of interest, but then not the amount that made
them stop what they were doing and walk upto this kid and take care of him.

After talking to 3 such uniformed guards who pretty much did nothing about this, I decided
I will take the matter to my own hands.I Kept following the crying kid who finally went
outside the station and sat on the bonnet of a red maruti. There I spoke to him, this time
in english, and he answered (maybe he did not get my tamizh the first time).

He told me his dad was missing and that his dads name was Ashok. I asked for the dads number
and gave him a call. He came quickly to his car and gave his boy a sound thrashing. After that
then he gave him a big hug. The hug was worth the chase.

At the end of the story, I had a few lessons

1) Please teach your kid your name and telephone number. Make sure they by-heart it.
It is extremely useful.
2) Although the kid wouldve most probably gotten back to his dad without my intervention,
I just thought, what if,
a) The kid lost the way and did not know where his dad/or his car was
b) The kid does not know the dads number
c) There are some malicious elements that are looking at a crying kid
in a railway station. What if they sprang to action before I do...

There are so many kids that end up where they should not, because we donot take action
or we leave these things unnoticed as we are pre-occupied with our own life.

At the end of the day, it is worth seeing the smile on the parents
face (that comes after they give a sound beating to the kid of course :))...

Another day...another lesson :)