Covid Tales
Covid Tales
The government enthusiastically started widening the road leading to Arni from Vellore. They erected cement dividers. Unfortunately with the spread of corona virus and lockdown the work has come to a standstill. erected barricades are present everywhere.
Returning from work, I saw a man sitting on the barricade. He has disheveled and dirty. He had a small plastic basin in his hand.
I stopped took out a ten rupee note and tried to put it in the basin.
He pulled the basin away.
"I am not a beggar," he said. “I work. I don’t want your charity.”
He looked like a beggar. I was bewildered.
"I can't work because of the Corona virus."
"Then why are you sitting here?" I asked.
"I am thinking of how to work."
Perhaps he was a decent man who had fallen on hard times. 45 days without work has even taken a toll on everyone even Reliance Industries. Perhaps I could give him some work? Not at home as I didn't want him to know where I live, but in the clinic??
"What work do you do?"
"I am a thief," he said. "I make a good living stealing. I am really good at my job. Unfortunately now people are in their houses all the time, night and day. The lights are always on. And, don't get me started on the police barricades. Every one kilometer, they have blocked the road. How," he paused for effect, "is a hardworking thief to earn a living and support his family?"
The government enthusiastically started widening the road leading to Arni from Vellore. They erected cement dividers. Unfortunately with the spread of corona virus and lockdown the work has come to a standstill. erected barricades are present everywhere.
Returning from work, I saw a man sitting on the barricade. He has disheveled and dirty. He had a small plastic basin in his hand.
I stopped took out a ten rupee note and tried to put it in the basin.
He pulled the basin away.
"I am not a beggar," he said. “I work. I don’t want your charity.”
He looked like a beggar. I was bewildered.
"I can't work because of the Corona virus."
"Then why are you sitting here?" I asked.
"I am thinking of how to work."
Perhaps he was a decent man who had fallen on hard times. 45 days without work has even taken a toll on everyone even Reliance Industries. Perhaps I could give him some work? Not at home as I didn't want him to know where I live, but in the clinic??
"What work do you do?"
"I am a thief," he said. "I make a good living stealing. I am really good at my job. Unfortunately now people are in their houses all the time, night and day. The lights are always on. And, don't get me started on the police barricades. Every one kilometer, they have blocked the road. How," he paused for effect, "is a hardworking thief to earn a living and support his family?"
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