“What is your name?” I asked that kid. “Peoples call me Chotu” He replied.
My route to office crosses many traffic signals and in each traffic signals you will be approached by the sales people of all age groups for “Vehicle Stop Shopping”. Most of them are children.
In India, child labors are the cheapest mode of making the profit for a family with earning child and also to the person who had recruited that child. Most of us are against child labor and we also don’t discriminate them so we call all these child labors “Chotu”. They may have a name at home but at work, they are been called only as “Chotu”. These children could be the one working in shops, begging on street or selling stuff on street.
Now, most of those beggars rather than begging sell different goods like Pen, Books, Toys, Balloons, Seasonal Items, Car accessories or selling anything and everything, rather than begging on different traffic signals.
This is “Vehicle Stop” shopping and similar to doorstep shopping where salesman comes to your house to sell something which you may or may not want. In this case salesman or saleswoman are the peoples with weathered out clothes, some mark of tears or running nose across their face or with impaired limbs or bruises across the face or hands. The moment your vehicle stops they will start selling you the Items that you can buy if you want.
They may be the same people who used to beg earlier and now sell Goods or Items. They don't beg, although they haven’t changed their attire, workplace or habit to ask for money. This is the new business of begging industry.
I am being an extrovert and talkative guy, I actually use the opportunity of Vehicle stop shopping to talk to all these “Chotu’s” who came as salesman towards my Bajaj Pulsar motorbike.
My motive is to get the insight of their life about their need, dreams, and fantasies. I want to use those insights to write an article, essay, story or a novel. The mean it may sound, the mean I am.
They also mean business hence I have to buy something from them every time I need to get their inside story. The result is, I now have too many pens, coloring books, soft toys or car accessories at home which I don’t need.
Most of these Chotu’s, recognize me. They know the price of their goods is the price of the answer to my question. It is addictive for them since they found a permanent customer and also for me because I get a ton of first-hand insight of their life which I believe been wrongly presented and projected so far.
I speak with all of them in the local language and realized most of them are happy and content with what they are doing. They don’t have a dream and if the end meets for that particular day, that day will be their happiest. Sometimes the whole family occupies a traffic signal and they will happy to introduce with their family or some cases pretending families and also some cases they have a boss whose name or identity they won’t reveal at all.
One fine day, in one of these traffic signals, while my way to the office I have met this Chotu. He is special and different than all other Chotu’s in different traffic signals.
He had dreams and demands. Sharp enough to calculate money quickly and honest enough to return the change. I many time met him twice a day if I have to stop at that traffic signal while coming back from Office in the evening too. I never asked his name and like every child labor, he is Chotu for me too.
He had that tan across his face, hand, and legs due to all the heat and dust from the road he faces every day. His natural body color was visible sometimes from under the sleeve of his faded half shirt. His big dark eyes, short height with that innocent smile easily help peoples to guess his age 5-6 years compare to his original age of 8 years.
I hardly got the chance to ask one or two questions every day based on the time my motorbike stops in that particular signal. Sometimes even before he can answer I have to move my vehicle since all other vehicles start moving or his voice does not herd with all the honks on that junction. Someday I got the green signal at my end the moment I reach that junction and never had any conversation with him.
These are some of the noted conversations we had in the Hindi Language over the period of time. We had much more to this but just added the remembered ones only. The unfinished one is due to the traffic started moving at my end that particular day.
------------------------------Day 10 -----------------------
“Chotu, don’t you ever bath?” I asked him. “Yes, every day on that River across the road.” Chotu replied instantly “Why?”
------------------------------Day 14 -----------------------
“What you love to eat?”
“Chicken curry and Rice, which my mom cook when we had good earnings over the week.”
------------------------------Day 20 -----------------------
I want to ask this question for quite some time now and asked him the moment I got chance “Whom you love the most, Mom or Dad?”
He replied, “Obviously my dad I love the most.” I asked instantaneously “Why?”
“He is the one who brings me all toys, I want.” His response was prompt.
“But your mom cook you chicken and rice, that you love the most.” I was playful and he was confused and before he can answer I have to move out my vehicle from that signal and this context never came up.
------------------------------Day 21 -----------------------
“Do you know how to write? You are selling Pen every day.” Was my question and “No” was his answer with a very sad face and while moving out of that signal I can saw him in the mirror that he is continuously looking towards me with that face while standing in the middle of the road with all vehicles gaining speed to cross that junction along with me.
------------------------------Day 30 -----------------------
I was always the one who start the conversation. Some of the time have some predetermined it before reaching the signal or sometimes the same question which I might have asked to another Chotu at the different traffic signal.
“You don’t want to go to school?”
“No”
“Why?”
“My Parent’s don’t want me to go.”
“Don’t you feel sad about it? See that kid on that bike and also on that blue car is going to school. If you look around so many of them are going to school. See they also have different dresses for different schools.”
“No, Never. I don’t want to go. I am happy here.”
------------------------------Day 38 -----------------------
“Hello Bhaiya, Meet my sister Jyoti. She likes to go to school” Chottu introduced me to his sister. This was the first time where he started the conversation.
“Which School you go?” I asked her
“I just like to go and study. My Parents told me, no need. Will you buy Balloon from me today?” She replied all in one breathe.
I hesitate and want to ask some more questions hence said “I am going to office now still I will buy a couple of them. Give me your and Chotu’s favorite colors.”
“Please buy four. I will give you my Mom and Dad’s favorite colors too.” She insists with a smile.
Buying Pens from Chotu was never a problem I can always keep them in my bag on my way to the office. Reaching office with balloons at hand was not a good idea. I bought Pink, Red and Blue balloons tied them at my hand while driving my bike. Thank god, Chotu and his Dad has same favorite color to help me negotiate and settle down to three balloons only.
I want to keep the blue one for the sake of Chotu but since was going to the office so don’t have any choice. I found some kids playing on a road near to my office stopped and gave them those balloons before entering at office premises that day.
------------------------------Day 41 -----------------------
“Where is your Sister today, I can’t see her across the road.” I asked Chotu.
“She is not well since last night. So my dad is covering both signals today.” He replied.
“You always cover this side of signal?”
“Yes in the day time and my sister covers the opposite side. My mom’s side is the left to your side and Dad covers the right. In the evening, I switch side with my sister. Mom and Dad also do the same thing.”
I realized that’s the reason I always find him at the side where I have to stop while going or coming to office. It’s the same reason I can see his mom clearly but not his Dad. I always stand closer to the footpath or roadside to meet Chotu which falls on my left-hand side. Due to the four lane and traffic, His father always visible distant from my side of the road.
------------------------------Day 59 -----------------------
I was sick for a couple of days at one of the weekend. So while going to the office on a Wednesday, I found the signal green the moment I reached there. If I have slowed down my bike, but I have to speed it up. Chotu noticed me in all the traffic and shouted towards me.
Chotu: Where were you?
I just smiled towards him, since I felt awkward to reply him back with all peoples moving around him. I do explain him in the evening that I was sick and fine now.
------------------------------Day 83 -----------------------
The newly launched 2000 Rupees note was in my purse that day and I want to flaunt it to him to test his mathematical skills so I said “Chotu keep this note with you. In any case, I buy something or other every day from you and you can deduct the amount from this money.”
After dwelling the note for few seconds, Chotu said “Which amount note is this? I only know 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 amount notes.”
“This is a 2000 rupees note.” I replied. He tried to hand it over back to me and said “I can’t keep this. Deducting 10 rupees every day will take you 200 days to finish this amount. That’s too many days.”
I was surprised and speechless with his prompt math skills. I started moving because signal turned green at my end. He ran towards me and gave me the 2000 Rupees note at my hand and while running with my bike he said “You just buy every day 10 Rupees from me. I will make 2000 from you someday but give me 10 rupees only. My father taught me if someone gives you bigger amount note just tell him, I have no change.” I can only able to nod my head to agree with his logic.
------------------------------Day 86 -----------------------
“Who taught you Math so well?” I said with the reference to what happened a couple of days ago.
“My Mom and Dad.” He said with an irritating voice “Don’t waste my time I am very busy today. Here is your pen and give me 10 Rupees.”
------------------------------Day 86 -----------------------
In the evening while coming back from office on opposite end of the signal I asked him “What comes after 2000?”
He shrugged his shoulder and said “I don’t know. You always come and waste my time by asking unnecessary questions which I don’t know”
He crossed my bike and approach toward a car standing next to me and asked that person if he would purchase a Pen. I asked another question “What are your desires, Chotu?
He turned his head over his shoulder towards me and smiled. While moving towards the next vehicle and said: “I just want to live.”
“Everyone live, what’s new in that.” I asked him with a raised voice so that he can hear. He didn’t say anything that day.
------------------------------Day 92 -----------------------
“Bhaiya, meet my mom.” Chotu said to me with an exciting voice.
“Namaste Saab. He told me about you many times.” She introduced me with both her palm closed.
I smiled back and replied “He is a smart kid. Why don’t you send him to school?”
She took a deep breath and said: “He is earning for the family we don’t want to lose that and also like any other kid, he don’t like school.”
I turned towards Chotu and asked him if he is going to introduce me to his father someday.
Chotu’s Mom intervened and said “No, never meet with his father. He doesn't like any of us meet and make friendship with travelers on this road. You are his only consistent customer, please be that way.”
------------------------------Day 99 -----------------------
He was living a simple life on a complex road. Driving there needs skill but living, may not.
While coming back to the office on one Friday evening, I was standing three rows behind to the same traffic signal and noticed Chotu found something lying on the side of the road.
He found me in the traffic and showed a 2000 rupees note that he found lying on the grass at the corner of the road. He came to me and asked, “Is this your money lying on the ground?”
I know that’s not my money. That money might have fallen from someone else pocket or purse while purchasing something from these sellers.
I nodded my head with negation and asked: “What he want to do with this note?”
He shrugged his shoulder and said, “Don’t know, will give it to my father and maybe I able to eat chicken soon.”
He showcased that note to his sister, teased him and ran away toward his father and handed over to him. His father eyes lit up which was visible from that far and in a pink twilight.
Father-son were having the conversation and their happy faces remind me the answer he gave it to my question I asked once “Whom he love the most? Mother, Father or Sister.”
My traffic signal started green and I have to move my vehicle along with others. Finding this he ran towards my vehicle but with honks from many vehicles he decided to stay at the side of the road and shout for me “He will bring me a big toy with this money”. I raised my hand and showed thumbs up while driving to give him a gesture that, I heard him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was a weekend that evening and next day and I was looking into all the Pen I bought from Chotu. There are too many of them now in my possession. Most of them don’t work and some I use it for occasional jot down.
It was total 90 pens. I met him 22 days a month if I go every day to the office. That make at least 4-months of interaction but I guess, I have known him for more than a 6 month now.
I checked my journal where I kept my daily activities and revisited pages where I have noted something about Chotu. I remembered the day we first met.
------------------------------Day 1 -----------------------
I felt a tap of the pen on my right-hand wrist and Chotu asked me “Will you purchase a Pen from me?”
“How much is the cost?” I enquired. “30 Rupees.” He replied.
“That’s too much. I will buy a pen every day. Give me in 10 instead” I negotiated.
He smiled and said “Only if you really buy from me again. Today I can give you in 20 Rupees.”
“Ok. I will pay if you allow me to take your picture today.” I said and He obliged and said: “Then cost will be 40 for the pen”.
I was really impressed by his logic and smartness that day. I got his picture and placed in all relevant social network so that if he got stolen by someone, his real parents may find him out one day.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Till date, no one enquired about him, which made me realized he was part of that family he introduced me to.
Due to some personal exigency, I had to work from home on Monday and was itching to meet Chotu to find the happiness he might have received.
On Tuesday, I found the whole family missing on the traffic signal. I thought it could be some off-day for the family.
On Wednesday, I found everyone was there except Chotu. The traffic signal and my urgency at work ahead didn’t give me enough time to enquired about him.
On Thursday, the situation was same. Chottu is missing from the scene where as everyone else is there on that traffic signal. I somehow managed to catch hold of his sister and in a spur, she said: “He is now going to school, so will not be available from now onwards”. Her words made me really happy as this is something even I want to happen for him, since long.
Few more days passed by and my eyes were always in search for him whenever I crossed that traffic signal twice a day on weekdays.
It was Sunday and New Year’s Day so was a holiday. I thought to distribute some sweets to Chotu and his family. When I reached there I noticed many peoples were selling different kinds of stuff to the Pune’s busiest traffic signal.
I was able to locate Chotu’s Sister, Mom, and Dad but can’t locate Chotu. Chotu was missing from the scene.
I asked her Sister and the response came the same. Today being a holiday, no school would have opened. I became restless and I need to find out the true story.
His mother was selling something at another end of the signal. I took a different route from that signal so I can reach to the signal where her mother is doing the sales.
When I reached to that junction after some time, I noticed she recognized me but pretend it such a way that she didn’t saw me.
“Where is Chotu?” I reached next to her side and asked.
“I don’t know any Chotu” She replied back.
“Where is your son?” I realized that he might have a real name which I don’t know.
She said, “He is at the school today”.
I realized there is definitely something wrong “Today is Holiday in all Schools. Which School he goes for study? I will go there and meet him” I said in a stern voice.
In the meantime traffic already started at that end and she started walking back towards the end where his husband is selling.
I adjusted my motorbike to stay with her. Finding me accompany her she turned back towards me and said “I can’t tell you and if my husband finds out that I am talking with you, he will kill me” She said with a discomfort voice “So please go and never come back”.
I was adamant to find the truth “I will call the police if you don’t tell me where Chotu is and what happened to him.”
The traffic was moving at full speed she looks toward her husband who is busy selling something as the traffic at his end just stopped.
“Please don’t go to the police.” She pledged. “He told me, Bhaiya will come one day to find me, please tell him the truth. He deserves to know” and she started crying "I will tell you the truth."
I am getting impatient and quite aware that if that traffic signal where his husband located stops again then she may not converse with me. The timer on the traffic signal was quietly counting down.
She tried to hold back her cry and said “Saab, your Chotu his dead!!”
Even with so much traffic noise on the road, I felt there was pin drop silence all around. That moment I can’t explain and felt my senses getting numb as I can’t believe what I have just heard.
She continued her story and I can’t able to speak a word in between “One day, He found one 2000 Rupees note lying on road. He picked that up and gave it to his father. He promised him to buy a toy car bigger than we sell, in this traffic.
In that night he was eagerly waiting for his father to come back with that toy and was not willing to sleep. To make him sleep, I promised that I will cook his favorite Chicken Rice tomorrow.
I don’t know when my husband was back that night. He was awake and went to my husband and asked for that toy. His father was fully drunk and was no mood in talking. He just pushed him forcefully and his head got to hit against the pole nearby.
My husband went to sleep and not aware what he did. I was sleeping too. No one was aware that he was lying there on his own blood till morning and I was the first to saw him when I woke up.
We took him to the hospital and after few hours, doctors declared him dead.
He woke up once at the hospital and said to me that just tell truth to Bhaiya, whenever he will come to find me else he will find out somehow, which will not be good for all of us.”
“Is your husband always come home drunk?” I wanted to know.
She said while sobbing “No, That additional 2000 Rupees as income caused him to drink. He was supposed to use that money for household and for my son’s toy but he blew it all up to drink.”
“I am going to kill him or put him behind the bar today” and started walking toward him
“No” she quickly came in front of me and said “Please don’t do that. What will happen to me, my daughter? It was just a mistake. I will give birth to another child to him. If that will be a son then everything will remain same. He will also earn in this traffic signal. So please don’t do this. He doesn't have any fault. It’s my Son who was adamant enough to get a toy. He should have slept quietly that night.”
Her words surprised me more than Chotu’s death. I realized, Chotu was just a source of income to her and not even her own blood matters here. Even if I do something for the sake of Chotu it will not solace his family.
I turned back and started walking back to my vehicle. The tears finally rolled out to my cheek. I turned toward Chotu’s mother and asked: “What was his real name?”
She sobbed, cleaned her eyes and said “Jeevan”
I just put the sweets I bought for Jeevan’s family at the same place I was standing at that time.
Jeevan is the Hindi word for Life and his only wish was to being alive and today on a new year’s day, when people take a new look at their life I came to know he is dead. Such an irony. I thought mere 2000 rupees (30$) was the Price tag of his life.
When I reached to my vehicle. Stayed there for some time to calm me down. I felt a tap on my right-hand wrist with a pen. I turned around and found a boy of 6-7 years old asked: “Do you want to purchase a pen from me?”
He was not Jeevan but some another boy selling the same stuff he used to sell.
I asked that kid “What is your name?”
He replied with a smile “Peoples call me Chotu”
©Tapas Majumdar, Not for reproduction without Author's permission.
