A New World

A milieu of colors greeted me as I entered the room. I imagined the work involved in having set up such elaborate decorations. It spelled nothing less than extreme class and elegance... the kind that people who are People indulge in as daily routine... class that was beyond imagination to most others in the society.

I waited. I was sitting on the edge of the couch... scared to do anything further... even browse through the magazines on the teak-glass table.I wondered how ever I never knew that such mags were in print... polished, cosmopolitan stuff.... the articles would be beyond my understanding, I was sure.... maybe with a kind of distaste that would remain in for a long time after.

It was a short wait... mainly because I was earlier than said... yet to me it seemed long... and I was making a mental note of how this was also a symbol of sheer "upper class" elite behavior... a symbol of money ruling over, a symbol of their disinterest in anything that was below their "high set" standards....

I waited still... the door leading to the inner offices was made of heavy rosewood.... (the kind that is polished the first time and left to fade to lend it that ancient look)..... and it opened... so suddenly... not even a creak that I noticed it only when it was fully open... and he stood there....

I almost gasped... I couldn't believe my eyes... he....he looked so different from what I had imagined him to be.... well, I just couldn't believe the fact that he looked..... completely normal..

He could have been anybody.... anybody across the street from where I live... just a well dressed gentle looking yet firm man.... I could feel it in his firm formal handshake....

I started. Just gave him the facts... It was going to cost a lot to build and we were running out of donors... And as he had promised our head some days back at a party .... if he remembered....

Here, I stopped... I was completely unnerved... It wasn't the first time I was asking for donations and I was very collected when I approached the donors.... but tonight... I was feeling misplaced and uneasy and .....

I hadn't heard it. Maybe I couldn't believe it.... I stared at him.... Did he mean to say that he was going to give enough for everything.... and also that he will take care of the kids' education?
There were around a 100 of them...

He corrected me...They were one hundred and fifty.....

I felt small.... I had missed the figures to such a large error and also was looking stupidly flabbergasted..... He stood up ... and handed me a pre-written cheque ... I didn't look at the amount... there was no need to... this man was different....

I stood up. He moved to the door.... and then stood by it.... he turned to me... and as an afterthought ...... "Wonder why money seems to bring a sense of despise towards those who possess it... I don't blame you.... guess its human nature.... But, I would respect people better if judgements were not made based on bank balances and turnovers and instead on something within.... Have a nice day...."

The door closed shut. I whispered a thank you to that majestic rosewood. It stared back with a sense of class and elegance that I respected now....

Of men, Of matter.....

Outside, the road seemed better and filled with promises of a new beginning to the hundred and fifty inmates of our orphanage.... and I smiled....wholeheartedly...