A couple of days back I had gone for some work to Connaught Place - one of best and most expensive markets in Delhi. After having lunch I was heading back to my car when I got intercepted by a beggar. This has always been one of the harshest realities of CP where one can see extreme poverty residing just ouside the shops belonging to some of the best brands in the world. Mostly people shoo them away, I've always been a bit of hopeless case in such situations. Initially I always gave money. But with time I realised that since such kids are managed by gangs they end up getting nothing, so I give them food.
She was a girl of about 12-13yrs. As usual I asked her if she wanted anything to eat as we were standing just opposite McDonalds. But she said that she wanted money and not food. I was surprised as usually kids are too happy and take the food. So I asked as to why she wanted the money to which she said that she wanted to buy somethng. I had taken out Rs.50 to pay for the parking, so I handed her the same. I was shocked when she said that, "Itna nai chahiye, keval 10 rupiye chahiye" ("I don't want this much, Rs.10 will do"). For the first time in my life, a beggar was returning me money, I was totally speechless. But since I was getting late I decided to leave telling her to keep the money.
But she insisted that I take back the extra money and instead help her buy whatever she wanted to as the vendor would shoo her away. So I asked where would I have to go and she pointed towards a magazine stand across the street. Honestly, I accompanied her purely out of curiosity to see what can an illiterate girl could want from a magazine stand. When we reached there I asked what she wanted and she said a poster. So I told the vendor to give her whichever poster she wanted. I had assumed that in all probability she would ask for a Bollywood actor's poster.
But when she said Brett Lee, I honestly thought that I had heard something wrong. I asked if she was sure and she replied in the affirmitive. I asked her if she knew who he was and she just said, "Haan ye cricket khelta hai, India ko harata hai aur mujhe bahut accha lagta hai, mere bhai ne iska naam bataya... apko nai pata?" ("Obviously I do, he plays cricket, India loses because of him and I like him very much, my brother told me his name... but don't you know him?) If this encounter wasn't already interesting enough it was topped by someone asking a cricket freak like me if I didn't know who Brett Lee was!
Anyways, I just smiled and told the vendor to give me the biggest poster (he had it in three sizes, the smallest was postcard size). Again the girl insisted that I take back Rs.40 and buy the smallest one which was for Rs.10. I got a little fed up and just snapped that why the heck was she so concerned about my money. She just looked up at me and said, "Isme toh aapke pure ghar ka theen din ka khana ho jayega aur upar se mere paas ghar nai hai itna bada poster tangne ke liye, main toh apni pocket mein rakhungi."("With Rs.40 you'll be able to feed your whole family for three days and moreover I don't have a home to put up this poster, I'll carry the photograph in my pocket.)
At that point of time I couldn't hold back my tears. The girls innocence and the realisation as to how lucky I am was just too overwhelming. Anyways I handed her the postcard and out of curiosity asked as to what would she do with the picture and she said very plainly, "kuch nai, apne paas rakhungi, jab mann udas ho laga ise dekh lung aur khush ho jaungi...ye mujhe bahut accha lagta hai, bas yahi ek cheez mujhe hasa sakti hai."("I'll keep the pic with me, whenever I'm sad I'll look at it and get happy as I really like him and his face is the only thing that can bring a smile to my face").
I had always known that Brett was loved in India but understood the true extent of it that day. Why is it so? I really don't know. I guess it's just his personality, honesty, lovebale nature and love for the Indian people that comes through. I've never been a fan of anyone in my life... but now I am, of Brett Lee. I hope to be lucky enough to meet him someday...and even if I don't, then I know that he will continue doing what he's really good at, playing cricket and bringing a smile to people's faces... be it an Australian or an Indian, rich or poor!
This story is used with permission from Ekta. Please do not take anything here without the prior consent of the webmistress.