The caution light turned red and all the
moving bodies except the living came to halt.
The weather was serene and the sky was overcast with clouds and it
seemed as if the clouds would burst open splashing the water everywhere.
Drizzling started and the people started dispersing in order to get some
shelter. Among them was a child around 12 years old struggling with the
plastic to cover his body from the rain.
He also kept his things in another plastic bag and resumed his work.
The rear passenger seat window of white
Mercedes was knocked and a newspaper was bought by the fellow sitting in black
suit with crimson tie. He quickly closed his window as the caution light turned
green and all the vehicles started moving. The newspaper seller kept the coins
in his upper pocket of the disheveled shirt and stood at the footpath waiting
for the signal to again turn red, so that he could sell the newspapers. He was
none another than that 12 year old boy, Raju.
Raju,
a 12 year boy who lived in Dharavi ,
Asia's largest slum. He commuted from there in order to sell newspaper. In the
age of going to school and learning new things, he was selling newspaper. It
was because of the financial condition of his house. His father used to work at
construction site and his mother used to join hands with him in running the
house by stitching clothes. But one accident at the construction site took his
father away from him, leaving the family in a miserable condition. Initially
the construction site owner paid some compensation for the loss of his father,
but the money ran out soon. As a result in order to make the ends meet, Raju
took the responsibility to earn some money to run the house. Initially he used to sell the newspaper in the
morning and the evening edition in the
evening at the traffic signals. He chose two- three busiest traffic signals and
started selling.
As
Dharavi is world famous, foreigners used to come for visit there and so he used
to give a tour to them about Dharavi and people living there. Initially he used to learn under a recognized
guide of Dharavi, then as he became well versed, he alone gave tours to the
foreigners. He had developed quite an accent of English due to this and used to
speak broken English but in a way which can be easily understood.
He
used to work very hard whether it was
selling the newspaper or giving a tour. The best thing about him was that he
was honest and kind. Though being poor, his mother has taught him all the good
values and poverty has never been hard on him to force him to do something
illegal. Though he saw in the slums, people doing illegal activities and
earning fast cash, but it never lured him to do anything. He had a best friend
called Chetan with whom he used to sell newspaper and he stayed near his house
only. Both used to spend time together. Sometime he used to join him while Raju
guided the foreigners through Dharavi. Chetan used to criticize Raju for not
trying to earn fast cash or not using any unfair means, but inside he felt
proud to have a friend like Raju.
At
night after dinner they used to go near the sea and in the moonlight discuss
things. Whole day Raju would be busy in things and at night he would speak up
about his dreams and aspirations. Chetan used to tell him that for dreams and
aspirations they need a lot of money and
that can be earned by unfair means only. But Raju would oppose him and say that
Just do your work sincerely and you will be paid. Raju didn't fail to seize any
opportunity to impress Chetan, though he didn't used to do that deliberately.
He was the way he was, kind of different and likable to others. Everybody in
the slums liked him very much and praised him for his honesty and kindness.
Being
a 12 year boy, he was very much kind and matured. Never raise his voice on
anyone and talked politely with everyone. At an age of going to school, he
opted to drop out and started earning so that atleast his sister can go to
school. He loved animals and had a pet
dog to whom he fed from the food he was
given by his mother. He used to eat some and fed the remaining to the dog. Every now
and then whenever you see him, he would have a smiling face and filled with
confidence . He had faith that sooner or later, he will fulfill his dreams and
God will help him do that. Little did he know that it may come this sooner.
Raju came home, had lunch and went outside
for a walk. In the way he met Sakibbhai, the one who taught him , how to guide
and he stopped Raju. He told him that from next day a group of foreigner
students were coming for a month and he need to properly guide them. Raju
became excited as it was quite sometime he hadn't given a tour of Dharavi and he
can make some extra money from the tip also.
Next day Sakibbhai introduced Raju with the
group. They came from US and they were there to make a short film on people
living in slums. Among the group of 5 foreigners, one was of Indian origin.
Raju was excited to see all of them and specially the Indian, Vineet. After the
introductions, Raju started the tour. As they were there to make a movie, their
idea was to see Dharavi first and then decide how they will move further. They
stayed at the hotel and every morning, they used to come, shoot according to
their decided script. In the afternoon when Raju would come after selling
newspaper, he would join them and they all would have fun. Even Chetan would
also accompany them, when they visit any particular place or if they want
anything when Raju would not be there.
As time passed, Raju and Chetan became good
friends of the group, also Raju and
Vineet developed a special bonding. Raju's nature impressed Vineet very much
and he saluted him to be honest and kind even being poor. One fine day, Raju
and Vineet went to the beach, where Raju usually goes to just sit and enjoy the
view. They started discussing things and as they had become good friends,
conversations became deep. Vineet asked Raju, what he want to become and what
were his dreams and aspirations. Raju told him that he wanted to become a
journalist. He liked selling newspapers because he liked knowing about things.
He want to know what was happening in the world and that's why the first thing
in the morning he does was to read a newspaper. That was one of the prime
reason, why he choose to sell newspaper. He also told that he wanted to be
someone who conveyed the truth to the people, the story behind everything, why
the thing that was happening in the world was happening. He added finally that if in future he gets the
opportunity, he will surely become a journalist and he had faith that God will
give him that opportunity.
Vineet was piqued by listening all this and
his respect for Raju climbed new heights. Next day he went with Raju to the
traffic signal to watch him sell the newspapers. He went with him in the
morning and just sat there near the signal and watched Raju doing hardwork and
his heart filled with sorrow as he saw him struggling. He didn't want such
an innocent soul doing such hardwork. As he was noticing Raju, he saw that
while collecting money, Raju sometimes kept the money in right pocket and
sometimes in the left pocket of his shirt. Then after selling all the
newspapers, he counted the money and again kept some in left pocket and some in
right one. This arose slight suspicion in Vineet's mind and he wanted to know
the reason behind this.
Vineet directly didn't wanted to jump to conclusions,
so decided to observe him. They went to slums and Vineet saw that, Raju handed
over the money from his right pocket to his mother, keeping the money in the
left pocket intact. Vineet's first thought
was that , the money might be given to the newspaper vendor, but then realized,
Raju already paid it to the newspaper vendor from the money in the right pocket
before coming home. Vineet decided to keep patience and with that suspicion in
mind, joined his group along with Raju.
After some time, Vineet noticed Raju
silently leaving the group and going somewhere. He decided to follow him. He
silently started following him. He saw him going in the way which was new to
him as that part was not guided to him by Raju and he was seeing it for the
first time. Raju was moving very fast and Vineet was not able to cope up with
him and soon he lose Raju. He started thinking, which way Raju must have gone
and suddenly a hand tapped his shoulder and he looked back to find Chetan
standing with a surprised look on his face. Chetan inquired what Vineet was
doing there as that area was dangerous. Vineet asked why and Chetan told that,
that area belonged to drug mafias and drugs were sold there. That's why Raju
never brings tourist there while guiding. Vineet instantly told that he saw
Raju going in there to which Chetan laughed and told that it was not possible
and he might have seen someone else.
Vineet decided to let go that as maybe he
might have mistaken Raju with someone else and thought that Raju had no reason
to go there and so decided to bury the matter at that moment only. But next day
also, he saw Raju having money in both pockets and giving just some of the
money to his mother and he also saw him leaving the group silently giving the
excuse of some urgent work. He again followed him and again lose him just like
the day before. This happened the third day too and by now Vineet was sure that
something was fishy. He asked Chetan and Raju also, but both denied telling
that there is no reason of him going there and gave excuse of a random work for
which he went.
Vineet was sure that his eyes were not
wrong and Raju was hiding something. Millions of questions conquered his mind
and they started disturbing Vineet. Was Raju a drug addict? Was he working with
drug mafia? Was he really honest and kind as he seemed or was it just an act?
Was everything he told just a lie or he really wanted to be a journalist? Was
he too tired with his honesty and stuff that he decided to go on a wrong path?
Was he making money by selling drugs for his dream to become a journalist? Does
Raju has some hidden face behind that innocent face. Vineet never in his
wildest dreams wanted any of this question to be answered positively.
So who exactly was Raju, was he a honest and
kind person as everyone knew or was there something behind that innocent look
which could be evil? What might be the reason to wear such a mask of goodness if
he was evil? To know more you need to wait for Part 2. See you next time .
Till
then think about it............
To be Continued...................................
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