It was a typical Saturday morning around 10.15 am and I was tossing around in my bed...planning the day ahead. An urgent phone call informing me about a meeting at the airport (which is a couple of hours away even on a Saturday!) came in with just over a couple of hours notice. Got ready in a jiffy and left for the destination - airport...dressed in formals. The shortest possible route was reach station, take a train to Ghatkopar (a railway station on the central line in Mumbai) and from there another rickshaw to the airport. Surprisingly the trains were packed! Getting down at the Ghatkopar station I looked at my shoes to check if they survived. They did. As a part of my travel kit to work I do carry a shoe shiner as a quick fix. Thinking for a second I planned to get them polished by the 'boot polish walah' - a concept pretty unique to Mumbai like lot of other things.
Boot polish walah
My first impression of them was a bunch of not so privileged guys of the Indian system who still believe in hard work. Later I was surprised to realise that its a complete system in place with people taking licences having identity cards etc. My previous experiences have been pretty ordinary given these guys also want to make the most of the morning rush which is peak business time for them as well. I approached one of them sitting on the Ghatkopar platform. It all started as usual. But suddenly I realised that this guy was different - very diligent, wanting to be perfect. I could see that he did that little extra to make the shoes really shining and as good as new. Or for that matter even better! That brought a big smile on my face and I proceed towards the station exit.
Shining shoes - growing up
The whole ritual also took me back in time...during my school days, when as kids appa would polish his shoes (whenever he was to be in his Indian Air Force uniform) and along with that ours. From those days I have grown up to be someone who is prim & proper - being careful to keep all his belongings in the best of shape! From shoes, to school books to my cycle and other things. He slowly introduced us to the task which I picked up with a lot of enthusiasm and also learnt the nuances of the task along the way. Both appa & amma used to be very happy to see me taking good care of my shoes both black and white. Shoe polish also reminds me and am sure most of us of the Cherry polish ad and Charlie Chaplin!
Later during my scouts days and now working whenever I polish my shoes am reminded of the good old days! Memories!!!!
2 comments:
I still remember when u were here in b'lore and before going to office early morning u used to polish ur shoes with full concentration & enthu after that keeping in sun,so it 'll shine more... :)
Ah yes ! My mom used to do it for me for some time !
in college, it was the NCC parades which got me into that habit.
Even today, i retain the habit of boot polish !
And as is with you, i get sepia tinted memories !!
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