Our Quam!

I was an eye-witness to this accident. While going to the local market in New Delhi, I saw a motor bike hitting from behind a stationary scooter on the traffic light, causing it to skid and suffer some damage. Fortunately, the victim suffered no injuries. Once on his toes, he confronted the motorcyclist and demanded an explanation and compensation. The road was a good ten feet lower so I stopped and looked down to overhear the exchange.
The motorcyclist disclaimed all responsibility while the scooter driver continued to protest strongly. As the argument raged on the road, the motor cyclist somehow managed to find that both of them, still in their teens, were Muslims. He patted the shoulder of the victim and tried to give it a new dimension.

“Bhai, hamari quam ki yahi mushkil hai. Hum ek dusre se ladne lagte hain.”(This is the problem with our community. We begin fighting among ourselves.)
The scooter driver was aghast and pushed him off. “Isme quam kahan se aa gayi? Hum sabhi Indian hain. Tumne hamara scooter toda so harzana do. (How does the question of community come in? We are all Indians. You damaged my scooter so compensate me for it.)

I didn’t stop to see how the fight ended. The scooter driver had made my day. I wish we, the grown ups, too had the maturity of the young scooter driver.