The Smile on her Dark Face

I was crossing a square in Sitabuldi area when I saw a woman, not more than 30 year old i guess, just dragging herself on the road in order to cross the road while traffic was stopped at red signal. A closer observation revealed that her feet were so severely burnt (barefooted on pitch road in Indian summer) that she was not able to walk on them at all.

Waiting for green light, in next few seconds my mind was clogged by some random thoughts...

"Is she less human then me?"
"Can i do something about It?"
"Should i approach her and offer her some help?"
"What these people - waiting on red signal, standing on Pan thela - will think about me?"
"Why, if at all, anyone's thinking should matter more than helping her?"
"I know i'll not do anything and forget about her in microseconds after the signal goes green..."
"No, I am not going to ignore this time, at least i can give her a pair of footwear"
"Will she be able to understand my language, what if she started shouting?"
"Ohh, there are hundreds of thousand like her walking barefooted, hungry, living in gutters... what the hell can i do alone!!?.."
".. what happened to this signal... come on, green, GREEN..."
"Right or not so right...let it be, i am going to talk to her!!"

I went to her while she had crossed (dragged by) the road,
"Hey! listen..." I said nearing her,
"Do you understand Hindi?" She remained blank to this, I went on...
"Do you want chappals (footwear) for u?"
"....."
In front of me was a dark face with some rapidly changing expressions...
"Chappals you know...for comfort of feet... You will feel good wearing them..."
She became somewhat nervous i would say, i don't know why, may be she was surprised, cant say exactly.
"...No" came the answer, as short and clear as a response can be.
"But why? it'll be easier walking with chappals, you have deep burns on your feet..."
To this, the smile appeared on her face was confusing...assuming it as affirmative I said,
"Just stay here only, I'll be coming in a minute with your chappals..."
"No, i don't want chappals..." this time her answer was long enough to identify her native speech, she was definitely from lower part of Chhattisgarh. ( "Mola chappal naahi lage..." - in her speech)
"I cannot walk wearing them, they are not for me" ( "Main chappal pahir ke jhan chal sakon, mola nahi laage")
Confused by her answer I changed my offer,
"OK, just keep some money, it'll help you getting food"
I was just picking out 100 rupee note from my wallet while she continued with the precious smile glittering on her face,
"I don't want money, its of no use for me" ( "Naahi chahi paisa, main ka karbo paisa ke" )
"so what do you want" it was my last try,
"nothing, just a place to sleep..." She continued with that ever lasting smile...
"this is my routine, throughout the day i search for the best place to sleep tonight... you do your work, when I would find a place to sleep, I'll sleep there and next morning you'll find me searching again..."
Stunned, there I was!!
It was my turn to go blank faced...this time, there was no emotions to change rapidly... she moved (dragged) ahead as I kept watching her for some time, and as far as I remember, that smile was still there.. on her dark face.....