Boys Do Cry
This is a notion with which I was brought up. Though, I never followed it, but this thing was always shoved in my face. Being prone to accidents, I had my share of tears. But, this is not about me.
I was at a supermarket, shopping for some groceries for the month. There was this small boy, around 5. He was with his Momma (that's what he was calling his mother) and was standing by his trolley. As I passed him, I gave him a smile (something I am rather quite accustomed to) and he obliged.
I was done with my shopping and was about to check out. As I was leaving the aisle, I saw him lying on the floor and crying his shorts out! Now, I think this might not have been a good thing to do, but I did stood there to listen as to what his "momma" was saying and why he was crying out so loud.
As it turned out, the kid wanted a chocolate bar and his "momma" did not buy him one, not that she couldn't afford it, but because she was adamant that she has already bought a whole box of chocolate bar and she'll give it to him when they'll go home. But, boys will always be boys. He didn't stop. His "momma" decided to leave him lying on the floor and just go and check out. And to my utter surprise, she actually did that. As the checkout was a bit far off from where this whole drama unfolded, the "momma" would have thought that he'll come once he sees me going off. He didn't. Everybody was passing by, looking at the boy with rather unpleasing looks. Some were kind enough to not even notice the boy. Several minutes passed, he stopped crying and started turning his head round and round to see what has actually happened. I thought the same thing he would have been thinking, even if his "momma" left him to teach him a lesson, she should have returned by now. She hadn't. Now the boy was scared. He didn't get up and started moving his springy neck here and there in a fast motion. But to no avail, because she had actually left the store.
I was looking at him and kept on changing the aisles. Was close by to him. After having seen enough, I walked up to him, picked him up, gave him a bar of chocolate. He didn't take that. He was scared to hell. So much, that he was actually shivering. I asked him as to where his "momma" is, he didn't say a single word. I didn't ask any other thing since I knew he won't answer. I made my purchase and took him up to the mall in search of his momma. I asked him again to have the chocolate bar, he looked at me with his tearful eyes and took the bar in his hand and didn't open it. He was looking for his mother. I thought this in my mind, that his mother would be looking for him as well, so I should go and wait by the supermarket in case she comes looking for him. So, I took him with me and was standing outside the supermarket with people giving me all sorts of crazy looks.
I asked him if he knew his "momma's" cellphone number, which he didn't. Another negative. Almost half an hour had passed and there was no sign of his momma. Now I was more worried than the boy. I went to the authorities to make an announcement about the boy. But he wasn't co-operative enough at all. He didn't find us friendly enough to tell us his name. And to my utter surprise (AGAIN!), the authorities weren't co-operative enough as well!
"Aggar kisi khawateen ka bachha ghum hogaya hai toh kindly administration par aa kar report karain".
When I came to the food-court area, the boy spotted his "momma" and raised his finger at her. The "momma" was least interested. She was more interested in eating her McBurger. I took him to her. This is what went down:
Momma: Oh my god, I am glad. I thought I lost him. Please tell how I can repay you.
She took her purse and took out a few paper of trash (read Cash).
Me: Excuse Me?!? Are you in your senses?? If you really want to repay me, then next time, please use some protection or at least be careful when breeding a child, they are humans, not animals. Thank you.
Momma: How disgusting you are!
Me: Thank you.
