My friend Akash

Like other day,

At Jadavpur thana signal, I met my friend Akash for the first time, selling Agarbatti (Joss stick)

Dada, will you please take one.

I replied, Will God be happy if I light one? Na I don’t light Agarbatti vai, don’t want. The signal towards bypass connector takes more than usual time to turn on. 

Next day again in the same signal, the boy with Agarbatti in his hands stands beside my front window with the hope, rolling down the window, asked him, how is today’s  market?  Wanted to know how many packet he sold today. 

Not good dada. Please take one.

Na Vai, I don’t light them, so I do not want, still I inquire how much is one Packet 

10

How many do you sale in a day?

Some people take it sometimes, he replied.    How many packets do you sell in a day?

Two to four packets a day, he replied .   I Asked, From where do you buy these and how much for one?

From Gariahat @ 4 Rs.  That’s good 6 Rs profit in one. But I did not calculate how much he makes at the end of the day or months. I asked his name " Akash".  Where is your home? Under the Gariahat over bridge. He stays in the Footpath with his Father and step mother and his father brought her after his real mother passed away , 

Before starting  I gave him Rs. 20. He asked won’t you take Agarbatti? Na vai, you keep the money.

Next day again in the signal, this time he recognize me and a bright smile in his face (like you see it in the picture) I thought lets help this poor guy and buy one, Called him Akash, give me one today.

After reaching to the destination, I light a Agarbatti, sitting inside the car, wow the elixir like essence of the Agarbatti turn my head on and I pray ….

Later I realized by buying that packet of Agarbatti, I did not help him, rather he helped me. I know my prayer was accepted that day.

Akash is my friend now and there are many small stories I have about our interaction. We drink tea together; I have promised him new clothes and good food during Durga puja. Listening Durga puja he said, he has a plan to move to Bangalore after puja, he will work there in a factory, good salary….

His words made me worried of losing him…..

To be continued...