Celebrating Independence???

I was out this morning for some work. Nothing much to mark the 59th Independence day except some talk here and some meeting there of the political parties each throwing shit on the other..I took an auto. The autowallah seemed quite a happy chap and had a radio blaring out some tamil movie numbers.. There were no big patriotic thoughts running inside my head either.. ( i have reservations abt de common usage of the very term 'patriotism') In all, it was a bright n sunny morning with little traffic on the roads. Suddenly, the auto came to a halt at a traffic signal. A little girl, must be hardly 5 or six years old, came selling plastic flags. She approached the auto I was travelling by and stood with an expectant pair of wide eyes. The driver wanted to buy one of those flags and started haggling with her when she quoted the price ( remember it as being 5/ piece)The girl was in a fix.. she didnt know whether to be happy at the prospect of selling a piece or to worry about the haggling.. she clearly was not allowed to reduce the price by whoever had sent her. She stood there blinking. A sudden gush of pity in the auto driver made him part with his precious Rs.5 without any further bargaining. The signal changed to green again and the auto zoomed past. A little incident. I was just a spectator. I didnt even feel like buying another flag from the girl to help her, for I dont know if it would really help her. Or may be thats not the reason... may be it is about getting used to such scenes around the city every day, and in the process getting hardened.A celebration of independence!!! That little face lingers on.............