A man said to the cop: "Why do u allow such beggars to hang around here and there to irritate us?"
The beggar came a step forward and said : " kyun? hum kya pedd (tree) phad kar paida huye hain? Kya hum maa ki god se paida nehi huye?"
He had fume in his voice, his eyes were dry and smoky, and his lips parted to reveal his yellow brownish pair of teeth : " Humarey bhi family hai, humein bhi unhe paalna padta hai. Ciggerette, bidi se hi kaam chala leta hoon; Afim, Ganja kabhi nehi peeta".
Another man chopped in : " Dekha? Yahaan athanni ke liye gid gida kar bheekh maangta hai, aur baat karta hai charas, ganja ki..."
" kyun na ho"- the first man took over again " meri monthly pagaar hai barah hazaar teen shi rupeeya- ee sasura toh us se bhi jyada kama leta hai- aur ise toh flat ka kiraya aur scooter ki EMI bhi nehi bharna padta".
The men departed slowly.
One third person, who was touched to the heart looking at the handicap of the beggar and his short of budget to buy charas- offered him a wills classic regular and asked - " Kitne din se ho is dhande me?"
The beggar trapped the stick into his ugly dry colourless lips, the matchbox between his chin and the shoulder, lighted it skilfully using only one limb, and replied " Almost for eight years". " It pays me very well, but i dont have the means to enjoy the money I earn".
"Well, what do u mean by no means?"
" Aap apni aur meri surat ko gaur se dekhiye. Phir humare body ko dekho. Aap sahi salamat ho... aur mera ek taang aur ek haath nehi hai. Kaun achha dukan dar ya hotel walla mujhe iss bhesh me andar jaane dega?" He kept inhaling the classic smoke like a bidi..
" Arrey, iss desh me koi bhi bhesh chalega- agar tumhare paas rokda ho toh!
Agar tumhare paas gandhi bharpur ho toh tees din me tees bibiyan badal sakte ho".
" Lekiin saheb, badalne ki baat toh wohi log karte hain jo apnee vartmaan se khush na ho, hai na? "
" kaun saala iss duniya me khush hai? Peon se lekar PM tak sab dukhi hai".
" Toh phir woh badalte kyun nehi?"
" Koi raasta sujhe tab na?"
" Mere paas ek raasta hai- jahaan aap jitni marzi kama sakte hain, Income tax bharne ki jaroorat bhi nehi".
" Achha? Wo kya cheez hai bhai? Mujhe bataa, main bhi karoonga..."
"... Thik hai- kal se ek katora le ke aana apne saath, dono bhai saath mil kar mangenge..."
" Dhat sala".
@ copy rights: SANTANU CHANGMAI
