My Biggest Investment

Mili my daughter had  hurt herself  yesterday. This happened while she was playing with a pin. All hell broke loose for my wife  and me. We ran helter skelter to  get her some antiseptic ointment. Her grandparents got busy issuing instructions.  We were told how to stop those few drops of blood and how we need to be more attentive.  ‘These kids are really  so soft, so loveable and they need to be really cared for’.

Today a kid came knocking at my car window. I had just passed a crossroad.  She begged me to buy a bunch of roses. She  was ready to sell to me those beautiful, fresh and red  roses for 50 bucks. I was not interested.She kept pleading. I rolled up my window and drove away at the first sight of the green signal. ‘These kids are really so annoying and irritating at times’.

Just 12 hours. Within just 12 hours  two different kids. Two different reactions. Pampering one kid with whatever she needs and ignoring the basic needs of the other. Am I growing insensitive? May be I am already. What will it take to make me think - ‘Rather than spending 500 bucks on a bottle of whiskey should I not get a poor child two set of warm clothes?’. When will it be a day when I will ask my daughter to share her glass of milk with another child on the street?

I think it has to be today. It has to be now. Children are children; they are the future of my country. But does it make monetary sense? It does. Think ROI, when I am old one of these will be deciding where my pension fund goes. One of these will find a way to keep me safe from my enemies. If I give them a skewed world today they are going to return the same to me tomorrow. If I remove the differences now  then I can dream of an equal opportunity world tomorrow.

Enough of giving the gyan, with a few warm clothes, I am off to make my first investment for a real return of tomorrow.

Manish Pandey works as a Business Manager in RBS.  Lives in Gurgao, Haryana with his wife and daughter Mili. Manish was every teacher's pet in SDA. He was witty, smart and sharp. Real Sharp!!!!