The Choice

Rajiv was hell-bent on buying a new Mercedes. He could surely afford it! After all, he had the bank-balance, which could make many people envious. He was single and successful and enjoyed a good reputation in the society. Owning a Mercedes would just be the icing on the cake.


He had gone to the showroom and selected the colour of his car as well. Black it was! The colour that rich men preferred. Now he wanted to get rid of his old Santro as soon as his car arrives. After he booked his new car, he headed back to home. It was raining heavily. On the way, he stopped his car at a small tea stall. He went into the stall and took shelter in the shed.

“One tea please.” He asked the vendor.

“Five minutes saab, I am preparing it right now.”

“OK. No problem.” Rajiv said, flashing a smile. Just then, he saw a small boy walking across the road and came to the stall. He was wet and dirty. Rajiv confined himself to the corner of the shed so as to avoid any physical contact with the boy.

“Bhola, what took you so long?” The tea vendor was furious on the kid.

“The owner of the dhaba left me late and on the way back, I slipped and fell on the ground.” Replied the boy in a frightened tone. He looked to be around 7-8 years old.

“I won’t pay you today’s salary. And if you don’t come to my stall on time from tomorrow, I will not pay you another penny for the next 2-3 days.” The vendor said harshly.

Rajiv felt bad for the boy. He also felt anger within him for the vendor for such rude behaviour towards the boy. He didn’t express his anger spontaneously though.

“Saab, here is your tea.” The vendor handed him the cup of tea.

“Thanks. Who is this kid?” Rajiv enquired.

“Saab, don’t worry about him. He is a lazy kid, doesn’t work at all. I pay him a daily salary of Rs. 20 and all he has to do is offer some help to me in the morning and in the evening in my tea-stall. But he comes late all the time. I told him so many times...”

“Does he have a name?” Rajiv interrupted him by asking in an angry tone.

“Saab, why are you getting angry? His name is Bhola. We have a simple equation of an employer and an employee. I am not forcing him to work at my stall. It’s his choice if he wants to work or not.”

“But isn’t it unfair to not pay him his daily salary, just because he’s a little late?”

“He was late by 15 minutes. Don’t argue with me anymore. Drink your tea and go.” Rajiv felt the politeness of the vendor vanish instantly. He drank his tea, paid the money and left the place. Soon after he reached home, he tried to relax by not thinking about the incident. But it was not to be. He was disturbed at the plight of the boy. Endless thoughts came into his mind. He didn’t realise when he fell asleep.  

It was a beautiful Sunday morning. Rajiv woke up and looked at the watch. It was 8.15 am. He got ready and went to the same tea stall. This time, he parked his car a little further away and waited inside it. At around 10.30 am, Bhola left the stall and started walking along the road. Rajiv followed him and after he was sure that he was far away from the stall, he stopped the car in front of Bhola. He opened the door of the car and asked him with a smile on his face, “Bhola, want a lift?”

Probably not used to such kind gestures, Bhola was astonished. But soon, he became conscious and without giving any reply, started walking. Rajiv was not able to comprehend this action of the kid, but persisted. He followed the kid and finally they reached a nearby Dhaba.

Rajiv saw Bhola going into the dhaba and finally, he noticed him taking orders from the customers. He came out of the car and went into the hotel. Seeing a new customer, the owner of the dhaba called out, “Bhola, take the order from this saab.”

Bhola came out quietly. “Saab, What do you want to eat?” he asked Rajiv.

“I don’t want to eat anything. I want to talk to you.”

“Sorry saab, but I cannot allow this. It’s his time to work.” Screamed the dhaba owner.

Rajiv took out his wallet and flashed a 1000-rupee note at the owner. “Will it be possible now?”

“Arre Saab, you can take him for a ride now.” He said to Rajiv and smiled shamelessly.

Rajiv asked Bhola to sit beside him. “Why didn’t you come with me? I could have dropped you.”

“Last time I took a lift from a person, I felt so much pain in my stomach. I didn’t want to feel that pain again.”

“Pain? What pain?” asked Rajiv.

“Nothing.” Bhola replied.

“It’s OK, I am not going to hurt you. You can consider me as a friend.”

Bhola showed his stomach and Rajiv was shocked to see a big cut on it. It was more like a stitch on his abdomen. He knew what this could mean, but he wanted to confirm it.

“Where do you stay? And where are your parents?”

“I sleep here in the dhaba itself and I don’t know where my parents are.”

“OK. You carry on then, and take this.” He took out a chocolate and gave it to him. Seeing such a big chocolate, he seemed very happy and flashed a million-dollar smile to him. Rajiv now had a small friend.

Before leaving the dhaba, he talked to the owner and gathered information about Bhola. He never had parents since these people know him. He worked in the afternoon and in the night in the dhaba and slept there itself. The owner paid him a daily wage of Rs. 80 in return. In the early mornings and in the evenings, he worked at the nearby tea stall. Two years back, he was offered a lift by a van and he accepted it as he wanted to reach the tea stall early, and didn’t come back, until two days later, he was found unconscious at the same place. The people then came to know that he was robbed off of his kidney. Now, he’s unable to run or play or dance unlike the other kids his age. 

Rajiv quietly walked to his car. He couldn’t believe the cruelty that this world held and how severely was the innocence of the kid crushed. He quietly drove back home.

Bhola finished his chores in the dhaba and was getting ready to sleep. He went near the bushes to attend nature’s call when he saw Rajiv’s car in a distance. He walked towards it. As soon as he reached near it, Rajiv opened the door and said with a smile on his face, “Want a lift?” Bhola smiled and sat inside the car. 

“Where are we going?” he asked.

“We’ll have an ice-cream and then we’ll go to our house.”

“Our house!” Bhola exclaimed.

“Yes, you no longer belong here. You will stay with me and you’ll study further.”

“Please stop!” Bhola screamed suddenly.

Rajiv stopped the car right there. Bhola went out of the car. “Doesn’t he want to come with me? Is he happy in his own life?” These thoughts flashed through his mind. And then he saw Bhola come back to his car with a little puppy in his hand. “Can we take him also please?”

“Where did you find it?” Rajiv asked, relieved that he was not making a mistake.

“He’s my friend. I feed him daily on the way to the tea-stall. So I get late every day.” Bhola replied.

“Of course you can bring him in.” Rajiv said with a smile. And they drove away.