Khushila

I met a young girl, standing at the McDs takeaway selling bubble maker.
Started chatting with her after buying a bubble maker while waiting for our order.
She must have been around 6-7 years old but was not sure and said that she was 4. Very sharp and lively with bright eyes and beautiful teeth. I asked her about studies (she didn't), timings (9 to 1), family (her mom and sister also did the same thing and father was a bus driver, or so she said), residence (near Amity university) and how much she earns in a day (she had 5 bubble makers and had sold 2, in which she reminded that one was bought by me!).
What charmed me was not the conversation, which the way I have put it, sounds pretty mundane, but her spunk and joie-de-vivre were a sight to behold! I even went to the extent of asking Jai, my son, if we could adopt her :)
I regretted not ordering anything for her from the counter so gave her our pack of French fries when they were delivered at the take out.
She looked at them with suspicion and asked what is it? I said potato sabzi. She took a bite and totally approved of it. As we moved away I could see her running with the packet to the pavement outside the mall where her sister and mom were sitting. Mom was breast feeding a baby.
I was so touched by her gesture. She could have had the fries on her own without anyone knowing, she had been standing in the sun since morning and must have been hungry, but the minute she got something to share she ran towards her family.
Someone had very wisely named her Khushila - "the one who brings joy!"

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