October 14, 2019

Approaching a slope I get off my bicycle. It is easier to push your cycle up a slope than it is to pedal against gravity. I carefully support the metal canister that sits on the back seat as I make my way up. It is held tight by rope and will not spill even if I don't, but one can never be too careful. A few steps before I reach the top I let go of the canister and hop onto the bicycle, pedaling the moment the slope flattens into a plain.

Hi, my name is Reeshikesh and this is how my day begins. The time is about a quarter past four in the morning. I pedal towards the railway station where I sell tea. My canister is full of it. I have been selling tea at the railway station since I was eight. I am nineteen today.

I hear the announcement in the distance "Your attention please train number 22622 Kanniyakumari - Rameswaram Super Fast Express..." looks like I'm in luck. That's the four o'clock train. I hit the pedal a little harder. If I reach in time my day will begin with a good sale. The announcement gets louder as the railway station comes into view "... is arriving on platform number one." Looks like the train is almost here.

I see two uniformed policemen look my way. One of them holds his hand out, gesturing for me to stop. Curse it! I get off and fold my hands in respect.

"Care to give us a cup?" The one who flagged me down asks.

"I would only be happy to sir."

I take out a paper cup and hold it under the spigot of my canister till it's full. I hand it to the one who got me to stop. He seems to be the aggressive one, so it's better to serve him first.

"Where's mine?" The other policeman asks.

"Ready in no time sir." I hold a second one to fill.

I see people coming out of the railway station. No one is gonna stop to buy from a tea seller who has been stopped by cops. Looks like today's morning sale was ill-fated.

"Where are you headed to boy?" The first policeman has finished his tea and is crushing the paper cup.

"Just going to sell tea door to door, sir." I lie. Independent private sellers like me are not allowed to sell at the railway station. Officially, that is.

"Oh, you think we are fools?" He barks. "This way leads to Ramanathapuram Railway Station. You're telling me that you were not going there to sell tea?"

"Sorry sir..." I join my palms in apology.

"First of all you are selling adulterated milk. And on top of that you are lying!"

"No sir, I have a cow at home." I really do.

"Looks like we got a smart one here." He smiles at his partner. By the way he's smiling I can tell it's a maniac smile, the kind displayed before violence. "You are calling me a liar then, aren't you?"

"No, sir I would never..." I flinch when I see him raise his arm.

"No brother, he's just a kid. Let him go." His partner grips his raised arm as if saving me from an imminent hit.

The guys are just putting on a show to get away without paying. I wouldn't ask them to pay anyway. I guess they just want to put on an act to make it seem like I'm the one who is in the wrong here.

The guy who supposedly saved me from a hit turns to face me "Look boy, it will be a really serious issue if you sell this poisoned milk to a pregnant lady or a small kid. Since you're a young boy yourself we'll let you off with a warning this time."

"Sir, I may be poor but I don't adulterate milk like most other tea sellers." I regret the words the instant I say them.

The first policeman points his finger at me "Now you've had it boy! Come on pay up the fine." He takes out a receipt book from his back pocket.

"Sir please forgive me. I haven't started selling yet. I will not be able to pay you."

"You pathetic loser!" The aggressive one picks up his fist again.

This time he's gonna hit me for sure. I raise my hands, bracing for impact. But to my surprise he freezes, his gaze upon my raised hands.

"Where did you get that ring from?" He asks.

It is a round black ring with golden inscription that means 'Don't be afraid to dream' in English. "It was given to me by Saleem Sir, Honourable Grandson."

"I see." He calms down. "Go on boy, get lost from here."

I mentally sigh. Whew! Danger averted.

Someone calls out from the distance "Stop harassing him!"

The two policemen turn around and see a guy in the distance. He is wearing torn clothes and a single white shoe on his left foot.

"You, come here!" One of the cops shout.

"Come catch me YOU PIG!" He screams and runs in the opposite direction.

The two of them take one short step but then think better of it. The one who was threatening to punch me turns around.

"Why are you laughing boy?" He glares.

"I wasn't!" I realize that I was smiling.

This time I have it. The guy lunges forward and kicks into the rear tyre of my cycle, bending the hub and dislodging many spokes. The bicycle falls to the ground. Hot tea pools at the ground below the canister lid.

I see a police SUV drive over.

"Get lost boy." The bicycle destroyer suddenly appears scared "Make it quick."

The two men are summoned to the SUV.

I pick up the bicycle and realize that it is not just my bicycle that is damaged, the spigot is broken and the canister can no longer be used. Tears flow down my cheeks. This was my bicycle since eight years. Someone had thrown it in a dump and I picked it from there. It was in an unusable condition when found: handle twisted out of shape, the brakes wouldn't work and the chain would dislodge every now and then. Initially I could only push it around. But slowly, over the years I made improvements, and finally after four long years I was able to ride it. The cycle was way more than a means of transportation for me.... it was the result of my work and hope; work that I put in and built part by part through my sweat and tears and hope that I found in a dump yard that made my life so much easier.

I sense the SUV approaching from behind as I push the broken cycle that wobbles at the back wheel. It slows down near me and in my peripheral vision I see the person seated in the back looking at me. I just wipe my tears and trudge on. The SUV passes and picks up speed a few feet forward.

"What happened Rishi? Why are you crying?" My mother asks.

"A policeman broke my cycle. And canister too." I tell her.

"That is really sad. But please don't cry Risha, everything will be alright my child." Mother resumes washing the clothes.

"What happened Rishi my son?" Mother's friend enquires.

"Some stupid policeman broke Rishi's cycle." Mother answers.

"What! Really?" Her face is furious "Is that true Rishi?"

"Yes aunty." I confirm.

She raises one finger and wiggles it as she speaks. "Well just you watch Rishi, that ugly cop is gonna meet with an accident. Within a month!"

"No aunty, please. Don't say such things. I wish the guy didn't lower himself that much. You know, being bad is as much a punishment to oneself as much as it is to the others who suffer the wrongdoings."

"You know Rishi the world will surely punish you for your naivety." Aunty resumes washing "Don't be too nice. You'll regret it soon."

At home mother prepares tea for us.

"Come on Rishi, cheer up." She nudges.

"I become sad when I think that I can no longer sell tea tomorrow onwards."

"You know you can always be a washer..." mother is a washerwoman "... you don't need any cycle or canister or fuel. All you need to use is your body." She arcs her arms out, much alike a most muscular bodybuilding pose.

I don't find it funny at the moment.

"You know Rishi, you are the one who taught me to read and write. I am so proud to have a son like you." She looks at me with warm eyes. "I used to boast to my friends 'While I may be washing someone's clothes here, my son is busy selling tea at the railway station. He's got a cycle. And he hands out cups of tea to beautiful girls every day.'" She laughs.

That finally gets me laughing.

We hear a knock at the door.

A policeman comes in.

"Sir wants to see you tomorrow." He tells me.

"Yes sir, I shall come." I wonder if I am about to get into anymore trouble.

"Do you have a bank account?" He asks me.

"Yes, I do sir."

"Give me your passbook."

I go into the bedroom without another word. I take the passbook from under the bed and hand it over to him.

He takes it. "That's all for now. You can collect your passbook tomorrow when you come."

And with that he leaves.