Thank You. [Poem]

Startled by a knock,

She looked away from her iPhone, out the taxi's window.

She gasped- Horrified at what she saw.

A ghost? A spirit? A murderer?

No.

Just another human like her.

But she was never so disgusted.

She didn't want to look out of the window.

The person standing outside raised a hand.

Begging for money. Begging for food. Begging for life.

It was a little girl.

Maybe ten. Maybe eight. Maybe thirteen.

You couldn't say, with the tears that had made prints on her face.

On her face covered in soot and dirt.

Her hair was tangled, dry, matted and rough.

She looked at the girl sitting inside the taxi with longing.

Wanting to be just like her- with earrings, glossy lips, dyed hair and fashionable clothes.

As she had nothing but a torn and soiled dress on her.

The girl in the taxi looked at her with pity,

and reached for her purse.

But she could only find hundred and thousand rupee notes.

'I don't have any change. Damn it.' she said and winced.

She looked at the beggar.

And pulled up a large five hundred rupee bill from her purse.

But just then; the signal's color changed,

And the vehicle moved ahead at full speed.

She looked back at the beggar.

And couldn't help but shed a tear.

The beggar looked at her still, smiling faintly.

As if she knew what was going to happen if the color red had not turned to green.

She mouthed the word 'Shukriya' at the taxi speeding away.

And turned and walked away, her head drooping low.

Because all she was,

was a lonely, homeless and sad beggar girl.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------x

We had a pretty sad lecture in English Literature one day and that is what inspired this. [2-3 months ago; orz]

This is also something I see many a times on the streets of my city.

It really hurts me that people can be in such a state when I'm  whining over not having an iPhone.

Tsk.

Btw; i used a few words in this poem which you might not get.

'Shukriya' is 'Thank You' in Hindi.

Rupees is the Indian currency. [I know that you know but still-]

And yeaah; I don't own the picture. :/