This is a fictional story ,presented here in more or less as a dialogue between me and a child labourer .The idea is to present the views of the effected child from my perspective.
It was another of the typical lunch breaks as me and my friends geared ourselves to go to college mess.However Aparna had different plans.She informed us all about her new found ,the “Khoka da Dhaba” an eating place at the other end of our college.We all decided to give it a try.
So there were we ,in about 15 min,sitting at The Khoka and waiting for the menu card. I just moved out for a couple of minutes to get some fresh air when suddenly a little boy maybe of age 8 or so approached me and said,”Sahab ,Chai lena kya, 3 rupee ki hai,garm taja chai”
I had always heard about child labour but never seen someone so closely.I was just looking him ,,seeing his tattered sweater,,clumsy hair when suddnely he again said”Chai wala,,,chai garm taja”.
I was thinking about it when Aparna called me for the meal.We had a nice one there but i couldn’t stop thinking about the child .I don’t know why but I wanted to talk to him ,help him if i could.So I stayed back and after some exploring here and there i were directed by the locals to “Chunni Chai ka Stall”
I got the boy there.He enthusiastically came running to me,”Kya Sahab chai peena hai kya”.I said to him Main chai nahi peeta”
Sahab chai nahi peeta,,arey thand ka maheena hai babu peelo na”
I again abstained from it but with little effort i got the small one to indulge in a talk.
ME:: Kya naam hai tumhara chote miyan..
Boy:: Sahab,,Mai(mother) mujhko Rajkumar kehti hai magar yahan par sab Chotu bulate hain
ME:: Kab se kaam kar rahe ho yahan par
Boy::Sahab,,2-3 hafta ho gaya..acha pagar hai 45 rupya har din ka..
ME :: bas ,tum yahan kaam kyun karte ho ,,sirf itne paiso ke liye……
I was just stood awestruck after he replied to this one.
Boy::
Apni toh zindagi hi aisi hai Sahab,
Ghar pe baap marta hai aur yahan maalik,
Kam se kam ghar pe mai ka aanchal to tha
yahan par toh vo bhi nahi hai
Baap peeta rehta hai,
Mai logo ke ghar ,kaam karti hai
Main yahan kaam karta hoon,,
taki Shanti ,meri choti behen ,ki shaadi ho jaye..
Raju mere bhai ko hospital bhi toh le jana hai
vahan Doctor apne clinic main bulata hia na..
Aur haan Main Ranu ko padana chahta hoon
Pata hia Sahab ,,main bhi padna chahata tha..
Magar main padunga toh Ghar kaise chalega
Roj ek ek rupya bachata hoon
Baapu ki nazar se chupata hoon
Har ek kaam ke liye
Main sabse bada hoon na..
Toh kya hua iske liye baapu thoda maar deta hai toh
Itna toh chalta hai na Sahab ..
Pata hia Sahab,kabhi kabhi khelne ka man karta hai
Tab main Maalik se chupke ,,
yeh glass ke saath khelta hoon ..
ek baar ek tut gaya ,,badi maar padi thi
Koi chai peeta hai toh meri rozi roti chalti hai
Tum Chai lelo na Sahab,Maalik Khush hoga
I took 10 glasses of chai and threw each one ,paud him and saw him running to other customer.I don’t know it was right to do or not .I don’t know how to help him.Just started the long walk back to college ,,,thinking , feeling ashamed of myself,and reflecting MY MEETING WITH A CHILD LABOURER
Note ::(This is the first or maybe second time I am writing something like this
Please share your views and help me to be a better writer)
