Those were the days of May 2007 in Nagpur when i had completed my MBBS and was preparing for my post-graduate entrance examination. The sun was scorching out as it happens usually in Vidharbha. I was studying in the college library (IGGMC) and it was around 3 in the noon. My friend Amit asked me to accompany him for a cutting chai. I happily nodded and we both went ahead seeking the shadows of walls and trees along the way and reached 24 hour ( a small canteen frequented by doctors and patients). It was the only place in the campus where doctors could smoke without being noticed by their seniors. We ordered "Do cutting chai" and were gossiping about the frustration of doctors seeking a PG seat in a good college. Amidst our talk, a middle aged man about in his late thirties entered the 24-hour canteen who was looking frail and was having a IV line in one of his hand. His clothes were soiled rather they were not washed for days together. We continued our talk on cutting chai. But somehow i was aware of that man and his activities. Soon he ordered a plate of rice!!! I assumed that some curry or dal will soon arrive for him. But to my sheer surprise he poured half a glass of water in the rice and started eating it. I got a lump in my throat. I could not digest what he was eating- rice with water. We both left the canteen to resume our studies with some food for thought. Few weeks passed by. I was invited by a friend to a restaurant called "Xing' on Presidency road in Nagpur. I was not aware of the reason for this unexpected treat. We all ate heartily and i was happy to have a sumptuous food at one of the good Chinese restaurant of Nagpur. The friend paid the cheque of around 2000 bucks. While returning back to home i recalled both the event- "rice with water" and water after a heavy meal. I witnessed two extremes of living. Here was a man who didn't have enough money to meet his ends and there was a friend who had spent 2000 bucks on lavish eating. Anyone to be blamed?
