Its
7.55am sunday morning, the autoride has been a breeze, a sort of Delhi
trans Yamuna darshan. I pay the agreed 150, the autodriver carefully
holds the notes in a folded hand, closes his eyes and says a short
prayer. Has the day begun well for you today? Smiles, yes sir thanks to
you. I smile, hope it goes like that all day. I am waiting for a birder
pick up, there is time to kill, its cold, we are
outside a metro station. Would you like some chai, no sir. Come on I am
inviting you, two tea please. As we sip some real good chai - where are
you from? Bengal, Dinajpur. West and East isn't it. Yes Sir - earlier
it was Dinajpur now it two districts. I was born in Calcutta, but Ami
Bangl Jaani Na (I don't know Bangla). Smiles, continues in Bangla - I
have two boys, they hardly speak Bangla - we are able to go once every
three years they have become delhiwallahs. Do they study, elder one is
in college. When did you come to Delhi, 1982. 30 years! how old are you?
52 sir. What I would have thought early 40s, really. What are the boys
planning? Do not know sir, we couldn't learn much, so we cannot tell
them much, spending money for their education is our job, that we work
hard and manage somehow. We've finished chai, he starts paying, Sir let
me invite you. No no, its me, please don't take money from him. Whats
your name - Ishwarchandra Rai. I am Peeyush. Where do you stay sir? G
Block. Oh I always park next to that school. Oh really I am sure then
we'll meet again. It is time to go, I thank Mr Rai and tell the chai
lady, "You make really good chai" She seems a bit embarassed, looking
away, "Sir, to make good chai is what I try" smiles, Thanks Mr Rai, I am
sure we will meet again and chat a bit more
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