A battle to achieve dreams in a big city, Junaid Rather writes a tale of two orphan brothers who storm the
melees of life to reach their dream in a crowded city.
New-Delhi:
Time means money and in metro cities it means beyond that. Life in these
cities is fast. In cities like Delhi, one is compelled to work for sustenance.
Everyone here has a tale to tell, a story of their resistance. Some are very
ordinary but some compel one to imagine what it means to live with dignity and
honor.
On February 20, 2015 Delhi witnessed a light
rainfall. Everyone was looking for a shelter to avoid rain, and importantly an
unnecessary fever. I too was jostling to find some place just to avoid any
health issue in coming days. While crossing the road I noticed an Auto rickshaw
waiting for a passenger. Before I could call the auto driver, a young boy who
had adjusted himself on the driver's seat understood my urge to get in the
auto. The duo kept waiting till the time I crossed the road and boarded their
auto rickshaw.
I asked the auto driver if he knew any place
where I could buy some herbal medicines for my room-mate. He smiled and said, "I know
everything." Mohammad Faisal, a diehard Bollywood fan, is simultaneously chewing
tobacco and spiting on the road says he resembles Bollywood actor Govinda.
Faisal who is 18-year-old explained that the
young boy, who was sitting next to his seat, is his younger brother, Altaf
Ahmad. He has studied up to 6th standard from a local government school in
South Delhi's Malviya Nagar area till a tragedy befell them.
In June, 2012 their father electrocuted while
trying to fix a shot circuit at their residence. A few months later their
mother died of cancer.
When Faisal's mother was breathing her last,
she made them to promise not to sell their house, which their father had
constructed and insisted on them to live their life with dignity and honor.
"After the death of my parents, I became
extremely perturbed. I thought of committing suicide," Faisal said.
He added that the only thing that stopped him
from doing so was the promise he had made to his mother of taking care of his
younger brother Altaf.
The death of their parents has crippled the
two brothers. Faisal said that till then he had no idea what an orphan means.
The life seemed meaningless. There was no hope left.
"Both of us were food lovers, every night
Papa would buy us two chicken biryanis. But now there is no one who buys food
for us. Now we are our own parents," Altaf said.
Faisal said that it took them a year to
emerge again. "A friend of mine suggested that I join him as laborer at a
site in Badharpur. Our work there was to collect stones and lift them in a
truck," he said and added that this process generated the hope. Faisal and
Altaf would go there daily and would make the earning of two thousand and two
hundred rupees daily. For digging it was Rs 1200 and for lifting the stones it
was Rs 1000 per day.
After one year, brothers had saved some money
and had decided to buy a second hand auto rickshaw. This auto didn't have a
permit to ply on Delhi roads as the number plate it hosted is valid in Uttar
Pradesh. The duo has decided to ply the auto on the interiors of Madan Geer
village, a part of south Delhi's Malviya Nagar area.
The duo drive Auto rickshaw in shifts. From
morning to afternoon Altaf does it and from afternoon to evening Faisal does.
And after 8 PM both drive. Faisal explained the reason behind driving together.
"Whatever we earn we save it. But whatever we earn after 8PM we spend it on
food and other important commodities." The duo doesn't know cooking so
daily they go to a local kiosk to pack food and eat in their home. Every day
they spend Rs 100 on their food and other daily expenses they have to address
is to fill the CNG in their auto rickshaw which coasts them Rs 320 in two
shifts.
To ply an auto without any trouble they said
that they had to pay Rs 1300 and Rs 300 to two police posts to avoid dilemma as
the vehicle is unregistered for Delhi roads.
"The only reason for our determination is
our father. He was very hard worker and always lived his life with honor and
dignity. We are following his foot prints," Altaf said.
This struggle has taught both many lessons.
After the death of their father they say that they were boycotted by almost
every relative but now since they have cope-up with life they are again
welcomed by the people around. For Faisal being rich is blessing.
Faisal is now planning to save money and
utilize it in enhancing their house. He smiles and says, "May bei ameer bano ga"
(I too will become rich) once I have two storeys and I will give it on
rent.
Altaf the younger one is 15-year-old and
loves to listen bollywood and hip-hop songs. He compelled his brother to stop a
vehicle and requested me to wait for five minutes as he wanted to buy an I-pod
from a street vendor at Rs 150.
"He has a wonderful scheme, if you buy an
I-pod he gives you ear phone free of cost," argues Altaf.
Finally he won the resistance and purchased a new I-Pod, turned towards me,
smiled and said, "I will download songs of honey Singh and we both will
listen by sharing earphone."
