COINING OUR VALUES

On my way to Agha Khan Hospital to meet my younger brother, who had just went through a major surgery, my three year old nephew came along. Throughout the way he kept on pleading with me to take him so he can meet his beloved uncle.

 

I tried to convince him that children are not allowed in hospitals and the guard will scold him if he tried to go inside. For a while he stayed quiet and I sighed with relief, thinking that he had understood the scenario, but then he put his hands in his pockets and started to look for something. In no time he found what he was looking for, a five rupee coin! Stuttering, he said
 “Appi mere pass coin hai , mai police ko doun ga aur phir who mujhe jane dein gein.” (I have a coin I will give this to the police and then he will let me go.)

This claim obviously stunned me and left me speechless. I couldn’t imagine how this thought came to his childish mind? Is it us the adults? Is it something he witnessed around him?