Last week I was kidnapped by this angry old lady...

In a neglected part of town, I was busy minding my own business (sealing an unhealthy food factory) when this angry old lady appeared from nowhere, grabbed arm with an iron grip and legit dragged me across the mohalla

She then started scolding me... the kinda daant only a grandma can deliver

And asked me why her street wasn’t cleaned that morning. Ngl, I was actually pretty embarrassed even though it wasn’t even my fault. She just wasn’t ready for any excuses and was legit furious!

A simple “let me look into it” wasn’t going to work
And she literally refused to let go

Acchi khaasi daant khilanay k baad she calmed down and we walked to her place where she offered me garam chai (typical grandma thing to do!)

Then she said she had faith in me as her son...

There’s something very beautiful and sad in this entire episode:

Beautiful: the commitment of a grandma to keep her neighbourhood clean for her kids

Sad: No grandma should have to do this. Our systems should be robust enough to ensure clean neighbourhoods in the first place

Today Grandma + 20 other women from the area came to my office to say thank you
We got her street cleaned that same afternoon and plan on making her neighbourhood the pilot for our Community-driven Clean Neighbourhood Project

(Sadly got no photos from today)

These photos were taken by a local boy. I’m genuinely thankful to him for capturing this moment.

It’s moments like these that make our job worthwhile. The realisation that we’re not just an Assitant Commissioner but a son to all these mothers is what motivates me to work harder