Street Life III
By Farah Salka, Staff Writer

Beirut, Lebanon - No, she is not putting on an act. Karma, the girl we find everyday selling chewing gum near the church in Shiyah is really handicapped and has been so since the date of her birth. While talking to Karma, you can not but marvel at how a girl, as young as her and as ill-fated as her can appear so responsible, so mature and positive. You learn to very much appreciate where you are in life from people like her.

Karma recalls the days when her dad was still alive. He would always embrace her and encircle her with the utmost love that an eight-year-old girl might need. Yet, life is so good at ruining pleasant moments, especially to those who least expect and deserve it. Karma’s life was going smoothly and she had been going to school for a year when the day came; when life decided to cart off the girl’s happy days and sweep away her innocence.

Karma’s dad came to school to take her back home. Back then, she still did not own a wheelchair and her dad was used to carrying her wherever they went. Karma was on her father’s shoulders and while crossing the street, an average Lebanese speed driver hit the father. He threw her as hard as he could to reach the sidewalk so as not to let her get hit by another car too. Although Karma was safe, her father died that day. And Karma’s innocence died with him.

Maybe it was the sensation of guilt or dependability on the accident that gives Karma the strength to handle all the hardships facing her now. Rather than getting ready to go to school everyday at eight in the morning, Karma starts her day off in the streets. Her mother puts her there and leaves her to go clean houses. The strangest thing is that while telling you her story, Karma does not try to make you pity her nor does she seem down at all. She keeps on repeating that if that is what God wishes for her, then she believes in his ‘will’ and abides by it. 

One of the things I hate in life is when I am given a case I really do not have a position on. What does my duty as a 20-year-old citizen towards a maltreated child like Karma consist of? Giving her a thousand every time I see her? Or smiling while passing by to remind her she is human? I really do not know. My thousand or my smile won’t really help her in the long run, and it is the long run that matters.

Until the day I formulate a stand to such a case, I will feel content with the thousand and the smile. A soda less a day for me and a smile more for her would certainly not affect my well being, but might probably highly affect Karma’s. Especially the smile…

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