Chotu waited for the light to turn red. Then he stepped onto the road, clutching his bundle of sun shades, his ware, in one arm, holding one in his right arm for display. His feet burnt on the tar. He approached the cars that were stopping at the signal. Some looked at him in disgust. Some shooed him away. Some took the sunshade from him, looked it over. His face rose with expectation. How much? "25 Rs. sir." He would make five rupee profit. His heart beat at the prospect. "No, 10 rupees," bargained the driver. "No saab." He took the sunshade back. The driver started abusing him about what a rip off he was. Chotu saw another car stopping ahead. He rushed to them. Four gentlemen wearing formals were inside. "How much?" "25 Rs, sir." The sun was parching his skin. He had not had a drink of water for hours now. He usually had some kanji in the morning and set out early in the morning, ever since his father had failed to return home 2 years ago. He would sell the shades his mother made, buy rice for dinner and some sweets for the little ones if his sales for the day was good. The gentleman sitting in the backseat reached for a sunshade and started examining it. "Give us four." Chotu was ecstatic. This meant 20 Rs! He gave them the shades. "Oh! oh!" said the driver and took the car ahead. The signal had changed. The faces of his mother and the little ones flashed across Chotu's mind. Terror flashed across his heart. If I don’t get the money, how will amma get the raw materials? He ran behind the roaring car, calling out. He could not remember how far he had run. The last thing he remembered was the jeering face of the gentleman at the back seat who had looked at him with fun in his eyes.
Thursday, 12 September 2013
Chotu
Chotu waited for the light to turn red. Then he stepped onto the road, clutching his bundle of sun shades, his ware, in one arm, holding one in his right arm for display. His feet burnt on the tar. He approached the cars that were stopping at the signal. Some looked at him in disgust. Some shooed him away. Some took the sunshade from him, looked it over. His face rose with expectation. How much? "25 Rs. sir." He would make five rupee profit. His heart beat at the prospect. "No, 10 rupees," bargained the driver. "No saab." He took the sunshade back. The driver started abusing him about what a rip off he was. Chotu saw another car stopping ahead. He rushed to them. Four gentlemen wearing formals were inside. "How much?" "25 Rs, sir." The sun was parching his skin. He had not had a drink of water for hours now. He usually had some kanji in the morning and set out early in the morning, ever since his father had failed to return home 2 years ago. He would sell the shades his mother made, buy rice for dinner and some sweets for the little ones if his sales for the day was good. The gentleman sitting in the backseat reached for a sunshade and started examining it. "Give us four." Chotu was ecstatic. This meant 20 Rs! He gave them the shades. "Oh! oh!" said the driver and took the car ahead. The signal had changed. The faces of his mother and the little ones flashed across Chotu's mind. Terror flashed across his heart. If I don’t get the money, how will amma get the raw materials? He ran behind the roaring car, calling out. He could not remember how far he had run. The last thing he remembered was the jeering face of the gentleman at the back seat who had looked at him with fun in his eyes.
Wednesday, 11 September 2013
So, will you marry me?
Will you marry me? He asked. She looked at him, her eyes unfathomable, a sardonic smile on her face.
Why, why do you want to marry me?
You are pretty, intelligent, broadminded, you have a great humor sense, and an amazing character. What else could a man ask for?
Yes, what else could a man ask for? There was curiosity and venom in her voice.
Well, so, is that a yes?
You have to tell me why you like me.
I told you.
Well, then, no.
Why.
You don’t know me.
I have known you for a year.
But what do you know about me?
I told you.
Oh, what you said, anyone can say. Why do you think am the one?
I don’t know, I fell for you.
Why?
I don’t know.
What if I say no?
I will be devastated.
How devastated?
My heart will break.
Are you sure you have not fallen in love with the wrong person?
Yes.
What do you know about my past?
Not much. But, past is in the past. I don’t care.
Are you sure?
Yes.
Can you keep a secret.
Yes.
Well, what if I were to tell you that I was raped as a child?
<silence>
<She smiled. >
Do you still want to marry me?
<silence>
Broadminded, my ass! <She gets up and leaves.>
Why, why do you want to marry me?
You are pretty, intelligent, broadminded, you have a great humor sense, and an amazing character. What else could a man ask for?
Yes, what else could a man ask for? There was curiosity and venom in her voice.
Well, so, is that a yes?
You have to tell me why you like me.
I told you.
Well, then, no.
Why.
You don’t know me.
I have known you for a year.
But what do you know about me?
I told you.
Oh, what you said, anyone can say. Why do you think am the one?
I don’t know, I fell for you.
Why?
I don’t know.
What if I say no?
I will be devastated.
How devastated?
My heart will break.
Are you sure you have not fallen in love with the wrong person?
Yes.
What do you know about my past?
Not much. But, past is in the past. I don’t care.
Are you sure?
Yes.
Can you keep a secret.
Yes.
Well, what if I were to tell you that I was raped as a child?
<silence>
<She smiled. >
Do you still want to marry me?
<silence>
Broadminded, my ass! <She gets up and leaves.>
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