" Areh Chotu " ( Oh Chotu !)

from the daily sere blow of the wind , an exclamatory question shoots

out - " Areh chotu ,samosa hai kya ( are there any snacks )?".

The chai(tea) shops' door crunches and in the darkness of the sun , an

outline appears . For a moment one might think "oh look , a spit" for

such cogitation becomes almost inevitable . The look slowly clears and

we see a boy , so breakable and delicate to look at , yet holds enough

will to lift up mountains.Unluckily bankrupt in his account of initial

luck perhaps .

"Ji ustaad , laya (Yes sir , i'll bring them rightaway) " says he , with a zealous beam on his cheerful yet

drained face .For him the little demand coming from his customer is

important as he gets a percent of what he sells.So keeping faith in

his not so fortunate figures , he fetches the "samosas" , casually

crushing them with a filty knife , and then , adding layers of sweet

and hot chutney with a pinch of onion rings left over from yesterdays'

stock.He keeps his patrons happy , for if satisfied , they may give

him some extra silvers to pocket.

Just being around for a decade , he says - " babu (sir) , i have a family to

feed , so i work ". Such maturity and devotion , such po - faced

behaviour , not found in all so very financially auspicious , is the

driving force that keeps him going.

I occasionally give him some old clothes , sometimes , even pay for

his meals , maybe , just to watch his eyes sparkle for a moment due to

me . The clothes though old , torn and misfits , become very dear to

him.

The owner of the chai (tea )shop is not so generous as the crowd chotu

sometimes serves . a man having a bawdy attitude , and a smutty

look.

He smiles and asks the boy , in a manner so sinister and devilish ,

that his voice makes chotu's spine tremble . Chotu doesn't understand

why , but it becomes evident from the expression he bears while

answering , that he does not enjoy the little talk he shares with his

master.

He questions him about his adolescent sister , who almost everyday

makes a halt at the chai shop, to check on chotu , while coming from

the hospital.

But does he realize the severity of the question? . he humbly replies

- " Janaab theek hai voh (She is fine .) ".

His answer bolts a series of dangerous queries , and with no choice

but to answer , he adapts to the uneasy situation.

10 Years Pass......

Trouble , his only friend so far , knocks at his door once again , and

this time , his sister is the one who infelicitously answers the door.

SEXUAL assault , hah , for the law does not allow the orthodox synonym

to circulate , is what trouble "gifts" her with.

She survives physically , but mentally scarred for life , she

hesitates to take the right step in succession , to convict the same

chai(tea) shop owner , of the lustful but obvious crime he commits.

What stops her ? why doesn't she react ? . One must always respond if

not react right ?

It is her brother Chotu , whose sacrifice and hardwork she keeps in

mind. How can she become a hindrance to the only source of rupees in

her family?

She simply chooses to live with it .

Chotu , clearly violating the meaning of his name now , grows up to be

stronger and bigger.His Feelings of brotherhood reach a detonative

acme , patience runs out and the same filthy knife , which was used to

crush the crunchy samosas (Snacks) , now crushes the very life of his

professional master.

Nobody understands why ? because nobody needs to know. Everyone

assumes - "thief " , "For money " , " a lunatic ", and the best one

"Sick".

Have people forgotten english i ask ?

words like "Vendetta ", "retribution " , " revenge " and "payback"

instantly die.

people do what they are good at - think the limited and invent .

He is now a criminal , a lobster caught in the net made for fishes ,

well someone has to show the fool proof gutting of the net just made

?s

" I hereby sentence you a lifeterm . "Areh Chotu " , the same word

echoe , this time accompanied with tears of sorrow but not of regret.

In his mind the vendetta stands completed and he becomes a hero. " the

feelings of revenge are sweet , but destruction is the price u pay for

those feelings "

His not so well mother dies on the very bed of the government hospital

, that became her permanent home . His sister departs on an early

train to god's own house , taking blame of all the things that so

promptly occured.The chai shop owner meets lucks' face of fury , and

chotu , still continues to serve chai behind bars responding to " Areh

Chotu " , gathering all his strength and using it to stop the saline

water rolling down his depressed cheek.

-----------------------------------------------------