Delhi Drama Act 6. Worlds Greatest Short Stories.

Delhi Drama. Act 6

I have made it a habit to always travel in the last coach of the Metro, the primary reason being less crowd.

Today too I was waiting for the metro at the edge of the last door of the last coach, I see a couple of boys in dirty ragged clothes run towards me and then stand right beside me, I see one of them carrying a plastic bag with a couple of thick books.

The metro arrives,

While I unsuccessfully rush for the seat, these kids rush for the vacant space that is there at the end of the coach and sit there while I stand facing them trying to figure out the books they are carrying, the translucent carry bag doesn't help.

One of the kids notices me staring at the carry bag, he takes out the two books and hands them too. They are both seal packed. I bend and take a look at the books

"The world's greatest short stories"
"The world's greatest speeches"

I ask the kid about the prices and the following conversation ensues.

"How much is it?"
"225, I'll give it for 220"

I am in a moral dilemma,
If I buy the books am I promoting child labor?
If I don't, am I hurting the child?

I look at the book with this confusion,
"It's an original one, I don't sell pirated books, you can check as much as you want to."
The kid says, assuming that I was skeptical of the book.

I decide to buy the book.
I pay him 250 rupees,
"I don't have change" He returns the 50 rupees note to me,
I don't take it and tell him that he can keep it. He looks at me for a while and keeps it.

I then sit beside the kids on the floor, the kids look surprised.
"Do you know how to read?"
"A bit", He says smiling and then goes on to read the word speeches, he doesn't read the name completely and gives me a shy smile, and then tells me
" That man over there is laughing at you because you're talking to us" I don't look at the man,

"Have you ever been to school ?"
He nods a no.

"Where do you sell these?"
"MG Road metro, platform number 2"
"Where are you going now ?"
"Akshardham"
"Where are you from?"
"Bihar"
"How much money do you make doing this?"
"I get paid 2000 Rupees per month"
"You cover all your expenses in 2000 rupees?"
"I don't have any expenses, the owner provides are room to sleep, and food, this 2000 rupees I don't get, it goes straight to home"
"He provides a room to sleep?"
"Yes! He has two rooms, there are 5 kids in one and 3 in other"

"What's your name ?"
"Ankit Kumar and this is my friend Nitish Kumar"
"Nitish Kumar ? Bihar ke lala?" I try to make him laugh, I don't get a response.
"He isn't very talkative," I say.
"He's new here, misses home a lot" Ankit replies.
"My younger brother's name is also Ankit," I tell him, he smiles.

"Where are you from?" Ankit asks me.
"Kolkata," I tell.
"Is this further than Bihar ?"
"Yes, this is in Bengal"
"Bengal? I have an uncle in Bengal. Farrakka. There is a huge bridge over there" He tells me with wide eyes, he has confused the barrage for a bridge.

"Do you go to a school or read?"
"I don't have that much time," He says calmly with his smile,
"We leave the room at 8 AM, sell some books at CP for an hour, and then reach MG road metro around 11 and this is the time we usually return"
I don't say anything for a while. I leave for work around 10:30, and reach back home by 8:30. And then there are days when I work from home. I am still tired at the end of the day.

Akshardham is now only a couple of stations away.
"Do you have a phone number ?" As soon as I ask this, I feel stupid.
"I don't even have a phone," He says giggling.

I see a scar on his cheek,
" How did this happen ?" I ask while touching the scar.
" I fell while playing, I was at home"
" When did this happen ?"
" Just before I came here, about 4 months back"
" Do you miss home ?"

Ankit doesn't answer, I see Nitish looking at me.
Akshardham station is near, Ankit and Nitish stand, Ankit forwards his hand for a handshake, I smile and shake his hand.
"Is MG road station your permanent sitting place?"
"Yes, come there some time, I'll show you around," He says.
"Sure. I definitely will" I say wondering if I would.

They get down,
I don't move from that place till the train reaches my stop, in a dilemma that should this be written about or not. I will meet these kids again soon.