Like every Sunday afternoon, I went to Sheesham Park this Sunday as well. Park was full of cricket players from nearby Colonies. Some young boys were roaming here and there, three four boys were fiddling with a football.
On one bench a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old boy was sprawled carelessly with his head resting on the hand of the bench browsing on the phone. While I was approaching towards him, he changed his posture and came into sitting mode. He asked me “Uncle ji will you like to sit here? I nodded in affirmation. He gave me place on the bench.
He perhaps knew me. He then asked Uncle ji, do you live here? I again nodded my head meaning yes but I did not speak. Now he asked…Uncle ji may I ask you one question? I again nodded meaning to accept his question.
Is this your Park? This time I nodded in negative. Now that boy again asked me if this is not owned by me then why was I scolding that boy who brought his motor cycle inside the park? And you were also asking that lady to keep her dog away from this park?
I replied see this park is not for playing cricket or football, this is not a playground. This park is meant for walking or sitting, even eatables are not allowed. Do you see how many wrappers and empty bottles are lying here and there, which I keep putting into the Dustbin, which you must have noticed when you were coming to the park. Yes, I saw that said the boy.
What do you do I asked? Are you a student? Which class? I am in seventh, but you are looking a little older for that class. He replied I failed twice, that boy standing next to the tree guard was with me, he is in tenth class. I asked him to call his friend. Why Uncle? Call him I insisted, he called, and the boy came, he saluted to me. In which class are you? Sir I am in tenth …. he was my classmate but he is not sincere in his studies and he failed twice, his father keeps scolding and abusing him but this hard core is not listening.
What is your father? Sir, my father is a peon in a Bank, what about yours? He is a rickshaw puller.
Uncle… ho gai tassleey (are you now satisfied) …he expressed his anguish. Uncle ab kuch Kaam nahi hai…. Rickshaw wale ka beta …. Ha Ha …Jeb katra banega …. rag picker banega …nahi to juthe bartan dhabhey par saaf karega.
He gave me a jolt of 440-volt shock. He was so truthful and so clear in his mind about his destiny.
Yesterday morning he saw me at the park again, and came to me, sat next to me on the bench. Uncleji give me fifteen rupees. What for? He said I want to drink Chocolate Milk from that Mother Dairy. I gave him a fifty Rupee note, he bought two and came back, gave me one, I kept that aside, he returned Rs ten coin and said now its price is twenty. He finished his drink then I gave him the other one. Uncle aap nahi piteh? Pee Kar dekho maza ayega. He drank the other one too and touched my feet to say thanks.
