It is now more than a decade since I saw Raju every morning, riding on his bicycle selling newspapers in our locality.
Today was a special day. While I was holding camera and trying to take shots outside my house in the park, I saw Raju coming over from one side on our frontage road, as usual waving at me with his usual friendly smile. I too reciprocated in my own stupor but before I could turn my head back to the shooting spot, Raju called me. Sahab ji meri be photo lo aisay he. (Sir, kindly take my shot also like I am ) I readily turned my focus on to him and took a shot. In few seconds he reached up to me. Feeling thankful, he started … issay video be le sakte hai ? (Can we take video too with camera?) Haan …han par ho bahut heavy file hogi…. par video kun ? (Yes, but that would be a heavy file. But why video?) I riposted. Me sir apna status update karna hai aur share karna hai me kya kaam karta hun.( I want to update my status and show to the world what job I do )
We had stopped buying newspapers from him two years ago. It neither changed our friendliness and more importantly nor the cheerful smile on his face that he often wears to greet everyone and every day. He is friendly with most residents and often chats over a cup of tea with few senior residents including the elite few in between his peddling hours
Raju continued, as I showed interest in listening. ‘I want to show the world, how I do my job and how much I love it. I am proud of what I do. Moreover, it keeps me fit and fine. People say, you look same as you were in your teens’. Raju Narang should be in his late forties.
Now the best part of his story is here ! The guy is from a well-to-do family. He uses his own car only for the purpose to collect the Newspapers from the central newspapers hub at 4 o clock every morning. He then picks up his bicycle and starts the distribution and ends the job by 9 o’clock or so. I asked him, uske baad kya karte ho? ( What do you do after that ?) Another job? Me kuch nahi karta hun . Bhagwan ki daya se mere pass sab kuch hai . (I do nothing. By God’s grace, I have everything) I don’t need to. But I love this job of mine. Mera kehna hai ya 100 percent do ya mat karo. (I say, whatever job you do, either give your 100% to your job or don’t ) Please send me the pic. Me sab ko dhikhana chahta hun me kitna khush hun. Status update karna hai . (I want to show everybody, how happy I am)
