‘Chai’ ‘Chai’ yells Chotu as he totters along the streets of his neighbourhood. The sun shines brightly in the sky, as the young boys and girls line up to catch their school bus. Chotu stands and stares as the children hurriedly climb the bus.
The scorching heat has mercilessly made pink whip-like marks on his back. Tired and drained, he sits down under the shade of a banyan tree. He looks up and stares at the sturdy branches of the tree. Within seconds, memories rush into his mind. His beautiful village, his mother’s loving face, his sister’s soothing voice, his cackling hen, his dear friend Ramu; and all of a sudden another face appears- the man who caused his misery.
Baban mama worked in the city. No one knew what he did or how he lived. All they knew was that Baban mama had a huge bungalow and lots of money.
On a balmy Sunday morning Chotu’s mother called out to him.“Chotu! Wake up! Baban mama will come home any minute! Go take a shower. And, did you pack that new shirt I bought you?” “I can’t believe our little Chotu is going to live with mama and study in the city from today. I am so proud of my boy. Baban mama is such a great soul, god bless him,” said the ecstatic mother to Chotu’s sister.
After a long shower for the last time in his pond, Chotu rushed home to his mother. His mother gently combed his hair and buttoned his shirt. “You just see Ma, I will become the Collector and come and pick you up in my white Ambassador. And then, we will go to my big bungalow and eat to our fullest.” Sita held her son close to her heart and a tear trickled down her eye. She whispered a prayer; she had only one prayer, “Keep him safe and happy, God.”
Soon Chotu and Baban mama left for the city. “How long is it from here mama? Will I go to the same school as Rani and Jeevan? Will they let me play with their friends? What all will I learn in school, mama? Will they give us pencils and pens to write with?” Chotu bombarded Baban mama with all these questions to which all Baban mama said was, “You have to wait and watch ! Now get into the bus.”
“It’s too less.” “It’s this ,or nothing at all. The boy is not at all healthy, no way am I going to increase the price.” “ Fine.”
“Mama, Baban mama…..” called out a sleepy voice.
“Chotu, Chotu,” Chotu turned around and saw his tied up mama. “Mama!” But before Chotu could do anything two hefty man carried him away. “Mama! Baban mama!” cried Chotu helplessly. “Chotu, Chotu, don’t worry! Baban mama will come back to save you!” and soon his voice was a whisper to Chotu.
One of the men came and helped Baban get up.
“What’s my share?”he asked Baban. Baban smiled at him and the two men walked away.
Chotu always wondered what happened to his uncle that night, until one day from a bus window, he saw his uncle tied up in a ‘helpless’ way and crying out to an innocent boy; just like that dreaded night. “Ek chai,”the voice woke up Chotu. “Jaldi.” “Jee saab,” said Chotu and got up. He
The scorching heat has mercilessly made pink whip-like marks on his back. Tired and drained, he sits down under the shade of a banyan tree. He looks up and stares at the sturdy branches of the tree. Within seconds, memories rush into his mind. His beautiful village, his mother’s loving face, his sister’s soothing voice, his cackling hen, his dear friend Ramu; and all of a sudden another face appears- the man who caused his misery.
Baban mama worked in the city. No one knew what he did or how he lived. All they knew was that Baban mama had a huge bungalow and lots of money.
On a balmy Sunday morning Chotu’s mother called out to him.“Chotu! Wake up! Baban mama will come home any minute! Go take a shower. And, did you pack that new shirt I bought you?” “I can’t believe our little Chotu is going to live with mama and study in the city from today. I am so proud of my boy. Baban mama is such a great soul, god bless him,” said the ecstatic mother to Chotu’s sister.
After a long shower for the last time in his pond, Chotu rushed home to his mother. His mother gently combed his hair and buttoned his shirt. “You just see Ma, I will become the Collector and come and pick you up in my white Ambassador. And then, we will go to my big bungalow and eat to our fullest.” Sita held her son close to her heart and a tear trickled down her eye. She whispered a prayer; she had only one prayer, “Keep him safe and happy, God.”
Soon Chotu and Baban mama left for the city. “How long is it from here mama? Will I go to the same school as Rani and Jeevan? Will they let me play with their friends? What all will I learn in school, mama? Will they give us pencils and pens to write with?” Chotu bombarded Baban mama with all these questions to which all Baban mama said was, “You have to wait and watch ! Now get into the bus.”
“It’s too less.” “It’s this ,or nothing at all. The boy is not at all healthy, no way am I going to increase the price.” “ Fine.”
“Mama, Baban mama…..” called out a sleepy voice.
“Chotu, Chotu,” Chotu turned around and saw his tied up mama. “Mama!” But before Chotu could do anything two hefty man carried him away. “Mama! Baban mama!” cried Chotu helplessly. “Chotu, Chotu, don’t worry! Baban mama will come back to save you!” and soon his voice was a whisper to Chotu.
One of the men came and helped Baban get up.
“What’s my share?”he asked Baban. Baban smiled at him and the two men walked away.
Chotu always wondered what happened to his uncle that night, until one day from a bus window, he saw his uncle tied up in a ‘helpless’ way and crying out to an innocent boy; just like that dreaded night. “Ek chai,”the voice woke up Chotu. “Jaldi.” “Jee saab,” said Chotu and got up. He
