Few months back, it could be early winter season or slightly winter season entering the zone. I was working in Bhopal. When I get free from work early, I love to spent time at the lake side. I admired the beauty of this place especially in the evenings. Most of the times, I went to CCD on hill-top, from where u can see the whole lake as well as eye soothing sunset. This view is just like a canvas of painter were sun set is shown with the bright color and lake water act as mirror for sun to talk with the people who alone in the park.
I enjoy walking along the bank of lake and most of the time I was company by my friend “Abha”. We walk along the bank then rest in peace to a remote corner which was little away from the crowded main course .Mostly couples use this place to keep away from public and some old age people comes for their evening walk. I preferred this corner for its greenery and peace. The golden reflection of the sunset makes this place magnificent and U can catch different birds chirping in dark tree.
We sit there for hours, I love to watch birds, sensing the environment with silence and She loves to tease me with her pranks and chat on different topics (mostly useless one), so we fought for little things, and then trying to patch it up or just sitting idle, listen to the sounds of silence.
But we interrupts by a thick high pitch voice- “Bhagwan teri jodi salamat rakhe… laa beta,paisa de..” It was a transgender (Intersex/Hizra) standing right over our head clapping hard enough to shoo away all nearby Birds.
At first instance we ignored him, but this person seems a tough egg to crack. Abha said- we are not couple and not doing anything for which we have to give money. He replied with many unpleasant sounds clap – this is my area, and every body gives me money.
I soon realized that he or she or whatever will not move without having money. His volume keeps on increasing and soon it started attracting attention of people sitting over there.
Abha argued not to give money by any means but I was not in mood to put myself in any conversation and wanted to cut this crap immediately so I take out my wallet and give ten rupees to him. He takes the money with such boastfulness as if I was his creditor. But he gave a lot of blessings after that and quickly vanished in the greens.
This was obviously not a good experience; it was disgusting to throw away your money like this. Even after that day, I saw him a couple of times more. He targets couple for easy money, which Abha always opposed, to the extent that it resulted in a fuming argument between them. To avoid such debate I used to just hand him 10 bugs as the tax for sitting with a girl.
Well time passed by, one day Abha was not in the town (or may be I wanted to be alone), so I was sitting alone at the same place. It was a chilly December evening .I was very disturbed that day, I placed myself silently on a corner, watching the Sun going down and than Moon appearing with the evening star ”Venus”. I was thinking about my past some months, a broken relationship and her. But i was not getting the answer that why all such things happened to me.
At distance I saw that tall boney creature, fearlessly roaming like a hunter, looking for his kill. But I ignored him, coz I was alone, so no need to give her the ‘love tax’.
But he was coming closer, collecting money from all the couples in between. I was not in mood to argue so silently I take out a currency from my wallet and without looking at him I raised it to his level. But the person put his hand on my head and blesses me with words and passes on. I was surprise and look up to his face and said why he is not taking the money, does he not required.
He claped once with a smile and said “Beta bahut acche ho tum, hamesha khush raha karo” (son, you are a nice person, keep smiling always).And I would feel that he could easily understand what’s going in my mind.
Doesn’t you want money today, I asked in surprise?
He said –“No”
You remember me? My eyes wide open in disbelief.
He replied- “beta, hum jinka namak khate hai unhe kabhi nahi bhoolte”.
First time I noticed his eyes. His face was same straight and emotionless, but I felt the sadness and care in his eyes.
He dint stay there for a moment , giving endless blessings he moved, got engaged in his routine work and left me thinking that when we will start considering them human and respect them. Forgetting about my problems ,I came back home with a concern thought and pit feeling about these people and their communities that we have force them to live in darkness and earn by begging .when go in surroundings we can find no facility for studies provide to them nor any sources for their earnings.. Is this not a punishment to them without doing any mistake to humanity?
Well, after that day hardly 2-3 times I visited that place, but never forget to give him the “love tax” and a smile. He too moved with same straight face and lots of blessings, leaving a big question mark on abha’s face..:)
