As he promptly took the money and started pulling out a balloon, I stopped him and asked him to keep the balloon as well as the money. The balloon wallah was conversing with a young man, who had just come out of a shop with a small child in tow, ready to hit the roads. I was afraid for a moment about what was transpiring between them when I saw him accepting the balloon from the seller and passing it on to his child. Poise and dignityWhile the show was going on, the balloon wallah walked away with a poise and dignity that I found extremely beautiful and unforgettable. While my balloon wallah is an outstanding example of dignified earning, I wonder how he can keep his spine erect in the ever-gnawing world.

Source: The Hindu December 26, 2020 20:07 UTC