I was picking okras at the local vegetable market. Selecting the fresh ones among the rude "dhakka" from every side is obviously a tedious job,but if you don't do so,you will end up either with dry ones or have to throw away half of those with insects inside! yuck! As I finished collecting a basket-full,I stood straight and tried to stretch my ached back. One elderly lady,who was waiting patiently till now came with a lovely smile and asked me, "Puttar ji,if you don't mind,can you give me half of those? See,I can bend myself to pick them.You are young,YEH SAB KAAM AAPLOGON KA HAIN"! What to say,I just stared at her. She's not my mom,not even known to me! This way she can take the advantage of her age,was not in my wildest dream also! Without much argument she just picked up half of my 10-minutes-collection and left without wasting a single word!
We often come across jokes about cunning old ladies and laugh out feeling amused. But I have actually come across many of them. Be it in the line of electric bill payment or in bank,I always let them pass considering their age or discomfort. But some of them really take the advantage of it. Snatching vegetables and wanting others to carry their bags are two examples. In other times they can run like horse or dodge others in fraction of seconds,but when they see a potential "Bakra" in front of them,they never spare a chance! Sorry to be rude,but I have many bitter experience about it. Being elder than us, they have the liberty to ask us all sorts of questions in public,they never pay attention to how embarrassed we are feeling with such questions! They are elders,they can do anything and they can get away well doing so,this feeling sometimes becomes too much to bear.
Men are also not far away taking the advantage of age! I have seen many elderly gentlemen in the market,bargaining fiercely with small boys selling leafy vegetables.....they often end up threatening them and taking away much for a lesser price,leaving those small kids almost in tears! I have seen those boys literally running after them for one or two extra bucks and they use to chase away these kids like stray dogs! So humiliating,but again,it's all about their mind set! "I am elder than you,means I am more powerful,you dare to challenge me!".........this is the attitude. In childhood they also got punished and humiliated by elders,now they are taking their turn!They never behave like that with able-bodied grown ups,that's another stunning fact!
I always prefer the real needy one to get his/her share or some extra comfort.........but here,I just can't stand the way few people take undue advantages of their weakness. It's so different from getting a seat in buses or standing in front of a queue.......We respect them as we respect their age or experience that comes with age. But if somebody use to misuse it,is it still advised to respect them and give them priority? What do you say,my dear friends?
