Struggling Childhood of India

It was one fine evening I was coming back to home after day long stressful work at office. I was pretty tired so to kill the stress I stopped at a road side tea stall to have a cup of tea. While having a tea I saw there were many kids hanging around some of them were begging for money while others are selling small toys.

One of them came to me and asked me to purchase a toy. Initially I refused to buy but he keep on insisting me to buy one. His efforts and dedication made me curious to know about him so I strike conversation with him.

His name was Deepak and he was around 10-11 years old kid. He was wearing a red sweater which was dusty and torn from all sides with naked foot.

In anxiety I asked him about his home, parents, education and stuff like that. He told me that he lost his parents in childhood and living with his younger brother 5 years old at footpath near bridge. He didn’t want to talk about education thing don’t know why may be feeling weird or something but I emphasis on that  then he told me he is going to Govt School of nearby area and currently in 6^th standard.

By now we were sharing a comfortable zone with each other so I asked him curiously from where did he bought all this toys he told me heart wrenching thing. Firstly he begged for money then he decided to do some work instead of begging so he collected money and purchase this toy at Rs. 17 and selling them in Rs. 20 by making Rs.3 Profit per toy. When asking for food arrangement he replied that he is having 2 bricks and one pot to cook rice every night to satisfy him and his younger brother hunger. He put 2 bricks aside and place rice in the pot and put it under fire by collecting waste paper, plastic or piece of wood from the road. This melts my heart.

I have decided if he is ready to work and not accepting begging for money I will surely help him. I have asked him after school instead of selling toys he can come to my office and do some work i.e. file shifting, market work etc. He was damn happy and said yes without wasting a second.

But at the same time I know child labor is an offense or crime but I can’t let him work like this since he is sincere and hardworking.

Our conversation last for 40-45 minutes I purchased one toy from him and we had a cup of tea together. My all stress and frustration goes into the gutter and was feeling happy and relaxed.

I have asked him to meet me at the same place same time tomorrow and he agreed happily.  I went there next day but couldn’t find him it’s a big area may be some miscommunication happened. I wish if he could have mobile phone with him. Since then whenever I visit that place my eyes are always searching for that boy.

I never met him again but he taught me something which I will always remember. I believe he was not meant to be selling toys hope someday he will achieve certain heights in his life.