IndianKiteRunner
..it was a typical warm evening at Chennai.
It was on my vacation time. I was on the rooftop holding the little one in my arms which I can quote as the most soothing thing of that hour. Down below, the street (road) was filled with auto rickshaw noises. Hazy dust was floating everytime some automobile passed that route. I took a deep breath as I was vertically away enough to avoid that pollution.
That being one of the windy times of the year, I could see people were trying their luck with flying kites. It never fascinated me from the childhood. Where I come from, kites were not that famous and “my” efforts of making one were good enough to give up the hobby completely. The fragility of the kite turned my interest even worse. But none of these things stoped me looking at kites. They defy the gravity rule for nothing.
While I was into one of those chitchats with Akshinn (the little one) to grabh his attention, a big red squarish kite slowly flew down near me with a long kite-thread attached to that. There came some scream form the street, a kid aged 10~12 shouting at me. He was not alone, he had his group of 3 jumping and asking me to catch the kite. I caught the kite slowly and kept a marble stone on the thread so that it wont fly away. I moved few steps away with my little one so that it does no harm.
I tried to inform the kid-from-the-street that the kite is safe but he was not around anymore. In few seconds, he came to the rooftop and I was bit puzzled as the rooftop access is only through the house. He managed to get past my family that quickly. He almost ran towards me, cut the kite thread in a most violant pull to his age, and then he fled. Not even a thanks – I smiled and told myself its too much to expect.
He went down and joined his crew and told them in Tamil, (“deyy, superru pattamdaa ithu..ennama thorathanam therimaa”) that thats the best catch of the day and boasted that he knew he could get it and thats why he chased it from 2 streets. Slowly things were clear and they were Kite collectors or kite thieves as the locals called. They sell the kite back at the store for a discount. Less I bothered but was quite interested to their chat. I listened. They stood there beneath a tree and with great ease, that streetwise kid rolled the threads in a fanatic but skilled way and pocketed while advising the rest of the kids about where to go next. He gave further advice, not to pursue any kites that are stuck with trees. He was not afraid of the fall, but said, kites would be ruined anyway.
I was still with my smile and continued observing him. His eyes were more on the side of a drama artist and as it wandered 10 times in 3 seconds. He flicked his hair more than 3 times to the back and checked his pockets for nothing – all while talking. He advised the rest not to hesitate to cut other kites when they see it or comes to their way. He was very clear – his phenomenon is, if they caught the kite, its rightfully theirs. Its the mistake of the kite flyer to lose his kite.
It just kindled my thoughts. Not just one.
I came from the same country but I didnt have had half of the spirit(?!) to chase aggressively anything – let alone a kite which is not even mine. The hunger and the very need that was in his eyes, the way that kid boasted and the proud look on his followers, he definitely knew what he was capable of. He commanded things. He believed in it. There were not even a slightest symptom of empathy on catching a kite which is not even his. He cared more on what he wanted!
I went back to the house and my wife asked me, “who was that kid and why did you call him to the rooftop”. I was blank and then said “I didnt call him”. She said, that boy came to the house and told my family that am calling that boy to the rooftop and thats how he got the pass.
I was dumbstruck. He was not only needy, hungry but clever enough to bypass the watchful family to get the kite.
He already earned my respect! He would grow to be an young man soon and am sure his focus would change to studies and more. Am sure one day he will start investing his energy in to productivity and his avatar will be a pure go-getter.
India is full of these youngsters. They are ever hunger, bright and promising. They dont have to go to harvard to learn leardership or management. They grow up with that right here. They learn that right on the road. They fall, but even faster, they are back on their feet. All by themselves.
As long as we have these kind of kids, India will ever be on top.
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