Vada Pav Mornings

I keep forgetting that the ubiquitous vada pav is the staple food of a rather large segment of the population in Maharashtra. And I keep getting reminded of that fact by the old couple sitting at the Churchgate station every morning, eating their meager breakfast from an old newspaper parcel. The old woman can't see, so its usually the old man who looks at me as if I am an intruder into their peaceful, if humble breakfast. I remember thinking once that if I were poor, I'd at least hold on to my dignity. I usually turn away from his eyes, embarrassed and ashamed as if I am trying to bruise his dignity.

Everybody starts out young, with a rather socialistic approach to life. And then we grow up into hardened capitalists out to get the bigger, better deal. I am no different. I am the typical hypocrite who thinks I've absolved myself with annual donations to CRY and that's that. I console myself with pseudo intellectual thoughts such as the fact that perhaps all forms of life are inherently capitalistic (seriously!). I'm usually pretty effective at turning a blind eye, but at times I am unable to escape that feeling of shame. And the old man with his vada pav reminds me of just that.