let them LIVE

Child Labor. A familiar term? Yes we are all aware of it.But still we don't care to stop and raise a voice against it. Can we just let them live their Childhood? This is a very familiar story which many of you may have experienced go through it once again ~

The train left the station.I was sitting by the window side looking out at the faint lights visible from every possible direction. A cool breeze hit my face, the rhythmic chanting of the engine and the occasional whistles made the experience more beautiful. "Close the window or you may catch a cold" my mom said. What? I had just started enjoying my journey I thought to myself. I didn't want to start an argument to ruin the mood so I quietly closed the window.
I had a look at my watch 11:30 pm the machine displayed in its usual digital format. The train halted at a station as people rushed in, searching every compartment for their respective seat numbers. "Such a chaos" I thought as I heard people quarreling.I plugged the earphones in and closed my eyes listening to my favorite music.
A bright sunlight hit my face as I opened my eyes.Mission accomplished! we had finally reached our destination.I took out my bags and landed outside. The station as usual was a busy place. Some people had heavy looking luggage, some had rucksacks with them that could someday touch the roof of the railway station ,I imagined. Some were also empty handed , some were running as if they were chasing Usain Bolt at an olympic event. There was rush everywhere even in that early morning. Everybody was busy with something or the other.
"Tea?" my father offered halting near a small tea shop. A hot cup of tea sounded delicious. "OK" I said. A small boy of about eight to nine years came with three glasses. "Saab Chai" he said. I felt uncomfortable at his mention but smiled and took the glass from him. Childishly he smiled back and then handed the other to glasses to my parents. I took out a biscuit and offered him. "No malik will scold me" he whispered looking towards the shopkeeper. He was busy making more tea. "Have it" I said and quietly put the biscuit in his pocket. He thanked me and went away happily humming some tune.
"Raju!" the chaiwala at the tea stall yelled. The boy came back running. "CLEAN UP ALL THIS MESS" the shopkeeper said loud and harsh pointing to a tray kept near a tap which was dripping water continuously. There were some glasses which the people had used for drinking tea, small bits and crumbs of biscuits could be seen everywhere on the ground. "Clean it quickly" the shopkeeper commanded.
"All day this boy wants to play, careless Idiot" the shopkeeper murmured. The people around who where there to watch the scene surprisingly nodded or just thought the shopkeeper was right. I felt bad for Raju. He quietly sat down and started the cleaning work. Just a few seconds had passed when a weak looking stray dog came and licked Raju. He took out the biscuit which I had given him from his pocket and divided it into two parts, He gave the dog one of the two and had the other one himself. I sipped my tea and silently admired his selfless attitude. After eating the biscuit the dog and licked him and started wagging its tail. The dog then sniffed around and started licking off the bits of biscuits and other food which lay on the floor.
"Such a dirty dog" the shopkeeper was there again. He took out a stick and hit the dog with it, Raju tried to save it but hurt himself in the process. The dog immediately fled. I could see tears in Raju's eyes as he continued cleaning. "And you" the shopkeeper said now turning to Raju "No more dogs from now and you will get no food today." Raju kept crying but continued his work.
My father paid the shopkeeper and we resumed our journey. I kept on looking at Raju. When some steps ahead I saw a poster on the station wall, it read 'STOP child labor now!' issued by central government of India. I looked behind again I could still see Raju wiping his face and cleaning the glasses...