The Hindu Business Line : Striking it rich

Take for instance, this little victory parade I had the honour to witness in the small maze of lanes clustered behind Business Line’s Chennai office.

Standing there early one morning, absent-mindedly chewing the cud, sipping my early morning cuppa, pouring a drop in my mouth, another down my shirt front, I suddenly heard a cry of spontaneous, unorchestrated joy in my vicinity.

The sort that money can’t buy, apparently. Ritchie Street, ‘the electronics capital of Tamil Nadu’ makes crores everyday.

But never once, in all my years there, have I heard it let out such a yip. I was pleased, of course, but also a little surprised, because the street had been quite empty the last time I looked, but for this little pup trying to curry favour by brushing the back of my hand with the tip of its moist nose.

Looking around, I saw a little chap with fat chubby legs that he had not yet learnt how to use. A handful of three year olds around him, fully engrossed in what they were doing, were gently nudging along a battered little green plastic doll that the toddler was after; so as to keep it within, but just beyond, his reach.

First, with great difficulty, he slid himself level with it.

Then, seemingly having become aware that life was short, he hastened his pace to a crawl.

Finally to everyone’s surprise he simply stood up, all wobbly, and lunged.

His first step in the journey of life. Didn’t take him very far. But when the journey ended he was one step ahead of the point at which it had begun.