Chor! Chor!

As I was walking out of the student's home after the class, I heard people shouting "Chor! Chor! Pakdo use.(A thief! A thief! Catch him).

Suddenly I saw a boy of approx 10 or 12 years wheez past me.

A crowd of 14-15 people running after him.

A man stopped near me and asked why I didn't catch him, I should have. He looked punishigly at me, and ran after the young boy.

I started to walk towards the metro station, a few minutes later, on the way, I saw the same boy who was running away, now sitting behind the tree, hiding.

I stopped near the tree and sat there on the footpath.

Now you would say why did I stop, I was just curious.

So I sat there and waited, it had been a few minutes I moved towards the boy. He was sitting there, eyes closed, bruises on his face, and hands. Blood dripping from his forehead, one slippers on his foot and other bare with spots of blood.

As soon as I asked him if he wanted some water, he shouted without opening his eyes, "Mat maaro bahiya, aur kitna maaroge". (Plz don't beat me up, haven't you beaten enough.)

I asked him again, if he wanted some water, then realising that he had something in one of his hands, stepped back. He opened his eyes and saw me holding out a water bottle.

He took the bottle and drank some from it, I asked him if he was the same boy whom I had seen running a few minutes back. He hesitated and tried to ignore my question.

Sensing that he was hesitant, i asked him if he wanted to be taken to a doctor as he was bleeding. He told me he didn't have money to spare for such things and it would eventually heal.

I asked him what was in his hand. He suddenly shoved his hand in his pocket as if I would take that thing from him.

I assured him that I won't take it from him, and just wanted to know what it was.

He told me it was a 10 rupee note that he had found on the road and as soon as he picked it up people around him started to call him by names, kicked him and dragged him, he ran from that place, but was eventually caught and beaten-up by the whole crowd.

I asked him again if he wanted to be taken to the doctor, and I would pay the fees of the doctor.

Reluctantly he agreed, so I took him to the nearby doctor, on the way I asked him about his family.

I was shocked to know his story.

He told me, he is from Bihar, he doesn't know about his family as at a very young age he was brought to Delhi to be a begger, and later on was sold to the pickpocketers. 

I asked him how he knew that he was from Bihar, he said, everyone around called him Bihari, and he knew that he is from Bihar.

"Where do you put up", I asked him, he told me he doesn't have any place to live as he had already left the gang of those pickpocketers, and roams around here and there, picking up some rags, and he eventually would find some rupee or two in the garbage.

He told me he even begged for some money.

I asked him if he was hungry, he told me he hadn't eaten anything for a few days now and can't remember when he had a meal before.

On the way to the doctor i picked up some samosas and some jalebis. 

He ate and told me his story

He asked me my name and why I came to him and helped.

I told him I was a teacher and I couldn't see him bleeding on the roadside and asked to help.

He told me that he used to steal from people when he was with the gang, and was never caught once, but these few months are really hard for him as he left the gang and his profession. He gets beaten every now and then.

At the clinic he kept quiet, the doctor asked me if I was in any way linked to the boy. I told the doctor that I found him on the roadside and didn't know him, he asked me if I would pay the bill for the treatment and I agreed.

The boy after approx. 15 to 20 min came out with bandages. The doctor told me that he would need to take some med. from the chemist for a period of 1 week at least.

I asked him his name, 'Raju', 'Raju bihari', this was his name.

He asked me if I could give him some work. I told him that I was struggling myself and won't be able to help him in this regard.

I tried to give him a 100 rs note but he refused. 

He again asked for some work, and told me he would do anything.

But at that time I couldn't do any thing for him.

I asked him if he could read and write.

But he hadn't been taught.

I took him to a nearby tea stall where I ordered 2 cups of tea.

There i read that the tea seller needed a helper.

I asked the tea seller of he would recruit this young boy at his tea stall and told him the whole story.

He asked me if the boy had any aadhar card anything with him.

But alas! he had none.

Raju insisted the tea seller to work under him.

The tea seller then Agreed upon certain conditions.

That for a month he won't pay the boy anything, but he would provide 3 meals a day, shelter, and nothing else. Upon the completion of one month the boy would be provided with 100 rs a day as wages, with 3 meals a day and shelter, but only if he works properly and with complete satisfaction.

Raju readily agreed to everything.

That was the day, I did something unexpected, I was happy to help someone in need, and realised how one helping hand can do something like this.

I went on with my work leaving Raju with the tea seller.

A month passed by and I wanted to check-in on the situation and went to the same tea seller.

There i saw Raju from afar, working really hard, washing the dishes.

He saw me and ran towards me, and hugged me. 

I then went to the owner of the tea stall and asked him about his progress. He too was happy with him as he had never seen someone working so hard.

Satisfied I went on with my work.

I has been 8 years now this episode happened.

Now you would ask me why am I writing this now.

Because I saw Raju today, i couldn't recognise him, with his beard, he came to me and touched my feet. He asked if I recognised him.

He told me that with his boss he now has 4 tea stalls and more staff working under him.

He even asked some of his friends to leave that life and work with him.

I baught a cup of coffee from his stall, it was a bit on the sweet side, but the story of Raju much sweeter.