by Dr Savita Nagpal ( B 86 South City 1)
When I acquiesced to a WhatsApp friend’s request to attend the Bharat Soka Gakkai Peace & Sustainability Conclave, I never imagined what a wholesome and joyful experience it would turn out to be.
As I waited at the Metro Station for my friend to show up, I was approached by an eager-beaver, smiling, young boy who was volunteering for UNICEF. He had just taken a plunge into his well-rehearsed speech about the health of the girl- child, when I pounced on the word ‘health’ and took off on how detrimental our polluted environment is for everyone’s health. That led to my diving head on into what “Slim Homes”, an eco-friendly organisation, does towards bettering the very same environment. The poor boy gaped at me speechlessly as he realised his own pitch for the girl- child had been hijacked. He tried to intervene with some wisecracks but I countered his googlies with resounding success. The boy seemed awestruck and said, “You’re acting really smart Ma’am”. I corrected his English saying, “I am not acting”. The two of us, strangers separated in years by a few decades, burst into laughter which was such a vitalising force.
Thereafter, my friend arrived and we hopped onto the train. We were happy to see a pick-up/drop- off service from the Metro Station to the Auditorium, arranged by Volunteers of BSG.
As I headed home, much to my joy I found the drop- off service to the Metro Station was still plying. I was directed to a car and lo and behold, the gentleman was about to get off his voluntary shift and was heading back to Gurgaon. To put it mildly, I was overjoyed with the offer of a ride back home. It was definitely uncharacteristic of the both of us, strangers again, to have trusted each other but the common BSG platform reinforced that trust.
Soon enough we both were chatting animatedly about rubbish. To clarify, we were not being flippant but were discussing ways and means of effective Solid Waste Management. Halfway through our conversation we asked each other’s names and exchanged numbers with the promise of following up with actionable plans regarding on – site Waste segregation and Composting. Currently the gentleman is in conversation with his RWA and I have my fingers crossed.
By now gnawing hunger pangs were kicking in and the gentleman pulled to one side as he went to retrieve sandwiches and cinnamon- apple cake made and packed by his wife for just such a contingency. As he offered me this much needed and delicious repast, I quickly pulled out my own cutlery with a flourish, as if on cue. .That drew guffaws of unrestrained laughter from the both of us.
Another few cherished moments with yet another stranger.
