Chotu ….

‘Chotu – Mehmano ko unka kmara dikhana ‘ (Chotu – show the room to the guests) said our host to the house help – I was busy getting our luggage inside the guest house. Madam leave it I will ask Chotu to get it in your room said our (home stay)host  Kanwar. I thanked him, went towards my room with one of the bags I put the first bag in when Chotu came lifting by Backpack and then I saw Chotu , a little taller than the backpack, probably 11-12 years old ! ‘ Arey arey chodo, ye bag mein uthaa loongi, chotu aap ye saare kaam kartey ho kya ?!’ ( Leave the bag Chotu, I will carry, you do all this heavy work is it?) Chotu grinned and nodded ….

By the time we settled in our room and freshened up we realized that we did not have Hot running water in the bathroom, Kanwar told us that the geyser (Huge one is there in the verandah and chotu will fill the buckets and get it to us as and when required …. I just nodded, and when we had to take bath I took the filled buckets and took it myself ….and then I observed that chotu was smoking bidi standing (hiding) behind the stairs. I didn’t stop and carried on with my task

By afternoon my kids were all charged up and both of them wanted to play with ‘Sudo’ the pet dog in the house, but both scared to go near , I went with them patted Sudo, seeing us Chotu came and tried to make kids comfortable , I told my kids to be with Chotu Bhaiya and play with Sudo – and told Chotu that kids have never been so close to pet so to be there with them . He was too happy to oblige .. within few minutes Chotu was playing with my kids carrying my little one on his back and making Sudo run …. By evening they all were comfortable with each other ….

Night few more guest came in and Chotu was at their service,… next day early morning still in my bed  I heard Kanwar shouting ‘ Kitni baar kahan hai , ghar ke andar matt thuka karo? Tum aadmi ho ya jaanwar? Chalo paani daal kar pura saaf karo?’ (how many time have I told you not to spit inside house, are you animal? Now wash the whole place) it did not take me much time to realize that Chotu was on the receiving end and he was addicted to Gutkha (Tabacco chewing …) I got up probably around 6:30 am and saw him carrying a big bucket of hot water to first floor …. He then swept and mopped the whole house, made tea for guest who asked for morning tea (we went out to have tea ..) , that day being Sunday he cooked rice and Daal and cut vegetables to be given at the temple nearby …… By 3 pm Chotu would switch on TV and watch Hindi movies till late evening , attending to any work as and when required …. He also played with my kids when they were home and wanted to play with Sudo …..

Day 3 while Chotu took care of Sudo, I asked him – ‘Chotu aapka naam kya hai?’ (Whats your name) he was surprised and then smiled and Replied ‘Dinesh’ – I asked him where is he from and how long he has been here – he answered – he is from Gorakhpur and its been 1 year he has come to this place …. When I asked who else is with him, he answered he is alone ….I asked – ‘you don’t go to school then’ …. He shook his head indicating ‘No’ ….we went out for the day and came back pretty late at night , next day morning we had to leave …. We packed our bags , got ready , I told my kids to say bye to Sudo and Chotu Bhaiya … Chotu thought we were going out and would be back by evening, only when he saw our bags he realized that we were actually leaving ….  ‘Aap log jaa rahe ho …’ I did not look into his eyes and said – yes we going and thanks for everything Dinesh …..