The CycleMan

Cycle man was a simple man with a crooked nose,red teeth (he ate supari a lot may be) and with a happy smile ( i can detect when a smile is happy or fake). Like in my office most of the time we  smile on people while saying good morning or hello (so its real by few people) but that is a thing of past too due to this quarantine phase of our lives. 

I saw him only once in my life and i have forgot his face but don't know why his memory is there at the back of my mind always. I am calling him cycle man because it was the only costly materialistic thing he possessed  since a happy soul ,contentment and his stunt skills can't be count as possessions.

This was during my Udaipur visit with my friends. Udaipur is a very nice place to travel , the majestic palaces,vast and calm lakes,super delicious street food,lakeside hotels ,folk music,refreshing tea,warm rajasthani hospitality,beautiful sunrise and even more beautiful sunset  and everything that makes you feel very royal and proud of Indian culture.

Uday Singh  II made this city surrounded by artificial lakes from some security point of view but now it has turned into a tourist destination.

So we were visiting the City palace and near the periphery of  Fateh sagar lake we stopped at a location to click pictures since most of us travel to show it to the world and also for some recreation.

At this spot , cycle man was also present and he was urging people to see his cycle show for Rs.10 ,but everybody was busy  clicking pictures.

He went to a group of people and asked them to watch his show , they ignored him.

He went to a second group they ignored him , then third , then fourth and then fifth.

And i  think he knows that it happens , because it happens everyday.

He also asked someone from my group but they also denied to watch his show.

I don't know why but i was saddened by the fact that everybody was ignoring him and nobody can even spare Rs.10 for some entertainment which can help a poor.

But his positivity, persistence ,consistency  and "don't lose hope" attitude inspired me a lot. 

At last a group agreed to watch his performance and i watched it too from a distance while capturing pictures.

He was very good at his stunt skills and it was an entertaining show.

When his act was finished , i went to him and gave him Rs.10.

He had a sharp memory too since he recognized me and said "aap program nahi dekhi , phir bhi pese de rahi ho" and he smiled , to which i replied that i have watched it from a distance.

I don't know why but i felt that he was someone with a beautiful soul.

When we travel we not only capture that place,food ,culture but we also impact a group of people whose households are run by the tourists.

But we should also see travelling as a source of learning.

Every person we meet has their own story.

They teach us something  if we delve a little deeper.

One picture from that spot. 

(Just to remind you that clicking pictures is also important since they take us back to those memories we wish to relive)

 

Thanks for reading !!