Adarak Ki Goli

I saw him even today.. But he looked different.. He was sitting quietly on the bench of bus-stop.. Just as I alighted the bus, I went straight towards him and asked,
"Kya hua chote miya..?? Aaj goliyan nahi bech rahe ho..!!"

His name is Karan.. He lives in a slum areas of Dharavi and is almost 12 years old.. He sells those small ginger candies outside the bus-stop.. I'd never seen him being harsh with any customer or you can say the public (as it is a public place)..

Whenever I alight the bus, I notice his eyes spotting customers or raising his voice out to sell the candies..

Though child labour is banned in our country, I forget everything when I notice this kid.. His convincing skills and language is too good.. It is everything that a salesman needs to cover his basic knowledge of marketing..

Looking at the efforts of this kid selling out his candies and moreover, my love for those ginger candies, I started buying his candies..

"Nahi sahab aajse shayad nahi bechunga adarak ki goliyan..!!", he said..

"Kyu re..?? Kya hua..??", I asked..

"Woh apna Monty hai na.. Woh mar gaya sahab..!!", he replied with tears in his eyes..

I had started buying his candies worth 10 rupees everyday.. Meanwhile, we used to talk about things--idhar udhar ki baatein, vagaira vagaira--for almost 5 minutes on that bus-stop before I would turn my directions towards my house..

Yesterday, when I alighted the bus, I saw him talking loudly with another kid.. As I reached near him, he placed his packet of candies on the bench of bus-stop and went running with that kid.. I shouted his name at the top of my voice, but he was in so hurry that he didn't even bother to look behind..

I lifted that packet and went behind him.. Finding out the ways, I managed to reach the slums keeping him in eye contact.. Suddenly he disappeared in that crowd.. I asked an old man there,
"Bhai sahab, yeh adarak ki goli bechnewala Karan kaha rehta hai?"

Fortunately, he knew Karan and guided me the route to his house in that area.. I thanked that man as well as God for this success at first attempt.. Who can find a house of unknown person in a slum??

When I reached there, I saw Karan with his pet dog Monty sleeping on his lap.. Karan was saying,
"Tujhe kuch nahi hoga Monty.. Tu jaldi theek ho jayega.. Yeh dekh aaj ki kamai.. Pure 30 rupaye hui hai.. Dekh tere liye paav aur dudh bhi laya mai.."

I was stunned.. Karan used to earn money to feed Monty..

I gave him his packet of candies and asked him,
"Kya hua ise..??"

"Arey sahab tum idhar..?? Kya batau sahab.. Monty do din se ulti kar raha hai.. Na kuch khaya, na piya usne..", he said.

"Tum is ke liye roz goliyan bechte ho..??", I asked curiously..

"Haa sahab.. Meri maa jo bhi kamaati hai, usme humara pet jaise-taise bhar jaata hai.. Is liye Monty ko khilane ke waaste mai goliya bechta hu..", he replied..

I had a feeling of pride that I used to buy those candies for a good cause.. At the same time, I also had a feeling of respect for Karan and his love for his pet..

I asked, "Use janwar ke doctor ke paas nahi le gaye tum..??"

"Aj jaunga sahab, mera ek dost bhi saath aayega..", he said..

"Yeh kuch paise rakh le.. Kaam ayenge..", saying this I offered him 100 rupees..

He denied it saying, "Nahi sahab.. Hum mehnat ki kamai se hi iska ilaaj karwayenge.."

That was a moment of double pride for me.. I was glad I met Karan.. I left his place with mixed feelings in my mind.. I kept on thinking what could have happened to Monty.. I was going to ask him today..

"Kya hua Monty ko..??", I asked eagerly..

"Doctor ke paas le jaate waqt hi uski maut ho gayi..!!", saying this, he started crying..

I was shocked to know.. Had I attended Monty to the doctor yesterday itself, I would have saved his life.. I felt guilty.. I calmed him down saying,
"Bura hua Monty ke saath.. Lekin tu aise ro mat beta.. Dekh ab Monty toh nahi raha.. Lekin hum roz milenge aur baatein karenge.. Chal ab muskura de.."

He gave a fake smile.. But I promised myself that I'll meet him everyday and talk with him.. I had to fill his loss of Monty, atleast to some extent..

I'll always remember this incident throughout my life...!!

Disclaimer: This story is purely fictional.. Any resemblance to name, place, organization or community is purely a coincidence.. The story is neither meant for harming any living being, nor does it encourage child labour..