My Boyhood Pedestrian Friends                                                                                                      Part II

My grandmother always spied on me and called whenever I was having the most enjoyable time with my pedestrian friends. She'd curse in Sanskrit saying that I'd become a bum like them if I kept their company.
 
Kasi was a parrot keeper who sported a wrinkly face and a wooden leg. He practiced fortune telling under a margosa tree. As customers sat next to him, he'd have his parrot pick out a card, sing a song and clang his bells offering verdicts from Hindu Gods and Goddesses. The whole thing was a con game. But he'd insist that destiny was all about helping people better themselves.

"Kasi, aren't you cheating people by telling lies. Is that honorable?"

"For a mere one Anna, I give them hope. I spend time hearing all their sob stories only to offer advise on how to turn their lives around. That's not cheating".

"It's still lying!"

"The politicians lie to the people everyday. Their motive is to win power and swindle money from the public. The difference is that I do make a difference. Lying is not a sin if it is done for a noble cause."

"Kasi, I heard you tell that poor man an hour ago that if he took a bath in Vaigai river everyday at sunrise, prayed to Lord Hanuman, he'd gain back all that he lost. That was a lie, wasn't it? He looked skinny and weak, yet you took his last one Anna. Not very nice."

"My little friend, Munisamy is a drunk. He had neglected his family over alcohol. He has not shaved nor bathed for days. My ploy was to put the fear of God into him so that he becomes sober to help himself and his family. Please understand the truth behind my lies."

There was neither anger nor protest in his voice. And as predicted, my grandmother was calling out my name, Bharat, repeatedly for all of India to hear. I could never fly under her radar.



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