A distinguished life...

Understandably a subjective inquiry. Believe most people have identified a set of KPI's to 'chase'...

But then there're unsung 'heroes' in that journey - the orderlies or the ordinary often overlooked. But being from a small-town those are very much an integral part of our reflection/narrative.

A glimpse into an everyday conversation could've the protagonist as, say great-grandson on Aata-chakki wala did so & so...

Today, was nudged into a similar reminiscence, when on my folks return from an evening shopping trip it was announced that batashe-wala(Pani-puri/Golgappa/Gupchup) continues to be stationed at same spot even during festive time rush, though he has grown about rickety old. 

Immediately it was yet another reminder that while we were growing up & now growing old...they're ppl who've inched towards retirement age. However our memory has their snapshot transfixed to that of over 15yrs ago! when we used to return from our Engineering entrance coaching classes & would make a surreptitious stop-over before heading home :) 

These vocations would never perhaps be glorious but yet remain endearingly fond - for the joys/breather they've render to our lives at numerous occasions. How's such an existence not remarkable?

[Related - will put in an anchor post why i prefer a barrage of not-so-awesome jokes if they still spark a smile or two]

Another such incident remained etched in my memory from perhaps around my Xth - XIIth boards is when i went to 'our' cobbler who sat right outside our Rly Colony entrance. When i gave my shoe for mend, little did i notice that he looked much healthy & bright. Only when i chatted a few more minutes, came to realise it was actually his son who has taken over his father's profession. When would we 'notice' these faceless vocations - a generation 'lost'?

Our childhood tailor, bicycle repair guy etc. who were hero's of young mind just couldn't weather the squeeze of 'organised' life.

How long are we gonna stay relevant - only time will tell. But we do wither away in dust eventually so perhaps there's no alternate to taking a lesson or two in humility...& be kind & forgiving to those who couldn't have had a remarkable career, as much of it is to no innate credit of ours but just the timing of our stars to land up in coordinates to pick the trajectory we're traversing today...