"Chai la du'n, Sahab?"(Should I bring tea, sir?), a soft little voice came from behind, while I was lost in my thoughts sitting in the road side restaurant.
I was a bit nervous and hassled as I was running short of money to pay my rent, and the landlord had visited this morning only and had warned me to throw out of the house if I dont pay the due rent in next two days.
While I was still lost in my own world of thoughts, again I heard a low voice saying, "Chai lau'n kya sahab?" (Should I bring tea sir?).
I took a light breath and nodded "Yes", he smiled and went in to fetch tea for me. He was a small boy of around 10-12 years. He had dark complexion with round face and black little eyes, oiled hair but were not well combed and was wearing a banian and short that were dirty.
It seemed that he had been working in this road side restaurant for earning his livelihood, since it is easier to get a job in the road side restaurant where they need people oftenly, also small boys find it easy to work as they are paid daily for their work.
"Lo sahab, garam chai!!"(Here is the hot tea, sir!), he came back with a hot tea glass in his hand.
I directed him to keep the glass on the table and asked him,"Naam kya hai tumhara?"(Whats your name?), his eyes shone and with a smile on his face.
He spoke cheerfully, "Arun, Arun naam hai mera saab, magar log mujhe pyar se 'Chhotu' bulate hain yahan"
(Arun, my name is arun, but people here, call me by nickname "Chhotu").
I smiled, and told, "Acha naam hai 'Arun', magar 'Chhotu' kyu bulate hain sab tumhe?" ("Arun is a good name, but why do people call you 'Chhotu'?).
He laughed at this question of mine and replied, "Sahab, main yahan sabse chhota hu isliye shayad!". (Sir, I think I am younger of them all here, thats why!").
I smiled to this answer and asked, "Kahan rehte ho?" ("Where do you live?"),
"Jahan bhi mil jaye jagah, reh leta hu, koi apna ghar nahi hai iss shehar mein".("I live wherever I get some place to rest, I don't own any house in this city").
"Maa-Papa kahan hai?" ("Where are your parents?") I asked curiously.
He said,"Koi nahi apna sahab, bilkul akela hu"("I am an orphan, all alone"), in a low voice.
"Ohh!!, sorry, to kya pura din ye hotel mein hi rehte ho?"(Do you stay here all day working in this hotel?", I began to question as my curiousity increased with the answer I received for the last question.
"Haan sahab, yahan thoda kaam kar leta hu, thode paise mil jate hain, usse khana peena ho jata hai, magar seth sahab ache hain, unhone raat ki school mera admission karaya hai, raat me school jata hu, thoda padh leta hu, main apna naam likhna seekh gaya hu english mein"(Yes sir,I work here for my livelihood all day and get some money for food and living, but, the owner of this restaurant is a good person, he has admitted me to a night school nearby, I study at night in that school, and I have learned to write my name in English!"), his face brightened when he said this.
"Are Chhotu, Ek bun maska leke aa!!", a person from another table shouted, Chhotu moved hurriedly from my table and went in the kitchen to bring what the man has ordered.
Suddenly my attention went on the tea glass kept in front of me, the hot tea had by now become a little cold, I took the glass and started drinking, thinking about Chhotu, now my thoughts were totally shifted to Chhotu's life as I have, for time being forgotten about my own problems, what the landlord had warned about me about!!
I always considered that I was the only person who had a lot of problems in life, to get a job, to earn a living, to survive life's hardships, but now, after having conversation with Chhotu, I came to know that I am not only the person facing these difficulties, but there are a lot of other people suffering too, and playing their part of the role, in this LIVE MOVIE, called LIFE!!
I stood up from the table, went to the bill counter, paid the bill, and moved out of the restaurant to play my role more efficiently, and never ever complain about the hardships I face.
Truly, Chhotu had given me a much needed inspiration.
FACEBOOK COMMENTS WILL BE SHOWN ONLY WHEN YOUR SITE IS ONLINE