justread’s blog

“sab, boot polish chahiye” ?
raja looked down…a small boy in his teen was at his feet ,pleading to polish his shoe. a girl was standing near him .raja was waiting for the town bus, infront of his lodge, to attend some urgent meeting at dadar.
“but my shoe is not dirty, come tomorrow for polish…i am staying at this sivaji lodge, room no-201″raja told pointing towards his lodge.
“sab, behen ka school admission ke liye paisa chahiye”{i require money for my sister’s school admission}
raja looked at the girl standing nearby…both brother & sister were shabbyly dressed..must be staying in some slum…still bus has not arrived…”ok, do it quickly;how much you will charge’?
“sab, panch rupiya leta hoon, aap ke liye discount hoga”{normally i charge 5 rupees, but for you there will be discount”
both of them started polishing shoe & did a really good job.raju opened his purse..he did not have change..only a hundred rupees note.
“sab, mere pas chutta nahin hai..i can change it “{i do not have change, pl give me , i shall bring back rest change”
raja somewhat was a little hesitant..but just felt pity seeing the plight of the two kids.he handed over the 100\- note to him.the boy kept his polish box there and ran to the corner for change…10 minutes have gone..no trace of that boy.raja’s bus has arrived;the girl also has gone to find his brother.raja felt very bad & curshed himself for his foolishness.he took that polish box & handed over to his lodge & told the receptionist that if any boy come to collect this box ,then keep the due amount from him.but he had no hope as he had heard many stories about the mischeif at mumbai.
in the evening after arriving he enquired about the boy…the box was still laying there.in the night he got several knocks at his door…but there were room boys, laundryman..etc
raju thought it is better to forget that money;he was curshing that boy.
twodays latter he got a knock at his door….he was really surprised to see that girl….”where is your theif brother ?now you require that polish box ?what about my money “?raja was shouting.
“yeh apka 97 \- rupiya, 3 rupiya polish ka…can i take my polish box ?”
“where is your brother “?raja asked
“he met with an accident with a truck while bring the chang for you on that day,he told me to hand over the balance money to you”. after a pause she looked at raja & told “he died yesterday”
raja was speechless…..”what about your study ?keep this money “
“no sir, how can i go to school ? now i have to do bootpolish for my family, please tell the lodge boy to allow me to take that box”
raja did not know what to say…..without knowing the fact how he was curshing that innocent boy?…..he was trying to recollect the boy’s face…………..

(a fiction …..what is your comment ?)