Each person, young or old, is “unique” and “interesting” in his/her own rights since we all are different from each other in the ways we think, we talk, we feel and we behave. However, I try to avoid using the word “old” in isolation at all costs if it is not followed by some fine “adjectives” such as “interesting”, “intriguing” or “versatile”, since it could end up in meaning something derogative. Anyway, thank you for offering me the opportunity to talk about an interesting old person whom I met in a waiting room while waiting to catch my train at a railway station, about a year ago.

He was probably in his early 70’s. I didn’t really feel like talking to him or anybody, even though I was sitting very close to him because I was really exhausted after finishing a long and tiring day at work. All I needed was some quiet and relaxing time. But, unfortunately, that was not supposed to happen because I needed to go out in order to grab some snacks to please my “growling” stomach. I was very hungry. So, I requested the “aged” gentleman, sitting next to me, to watch my luggage just for a little while I was gone for buying something to eat. In response, he opened his little bag and offered me some cookies that were kept in it. I chose to oblige because I wasn’t really in a mood to talk or argue with anybody.

Eating cookies and thinking if I would make another attempt to go out because those cookies were just not enough for me, and just then he asked me for how long I was starving. I said “not more than 10 hours” in response. He smiled and then asked me again, “do you know how many people go to bed hungry every night?” I said that I had no idea. He said, “Almost 10% of the world population goes to bed hungry every night without knowing what they are going to eat the next day.” He also told me that he hardly ate more than twice a day, and his rather “thin” shape bears testimony to his “limited food consumption”. Suddenly, the train arrived, and we were r