Crossroad

Raju’s life changed with the entry of a film crew in their dingy abodes which was searching for some talent; slum talent, a life the crew was unaware of. Naturally the Englishmen found the suburbs perfect for shooting and started search for a local talent. The drunkard father, sensing a chance of minting money, took Raju for audition. His selection was a foregone conclusion because; firstly the role did not demand much and secondly the fan-following he garnered in the slums impressed the Englishmen. The director happily agreed to have Raju, and the slum cheered. Nitty-gritty of the deal was taken care of and our slumdog Raju was set for a cinematic experience. Raju hardly cared for the money; frankly, he had no idea what money meant. The only thing that mattered in his life now was, “Lights, Camera, Action”. The next 2-3 months Raju spent with the film unit which sometimes would travel to the nearby cities. He cherished every moment spent with these unknown people and thoroughly enjoye...

In the dingy suburbs with cloistered colonies, surrounded with dirt and waste dumping grounds, lived Raju! The budding child actor was although unaware of the potential that lay within. Being a typical slum dweller, he had a rather ramshackle living. His abode lay in one of the numerous convoluted pathways that may appear as a cobweb for us city dwellers. So what was peculiar in the life of this slum-dweller. Actually nothing! A normal day in Raju’s life meant waking up after mother’s chordless continuous rants, carrying out ablutions around the railway track, washing himself in the lone hand-pump that existed and running to school. Well! School was a new entry to the daily chores… only after mid-day-meal scheme and guarantee of books and school uniform was given by the government. So no prizes for guessing the amount of passion these children had for studies, the passion also made stronger by the fact that only two teachers existed in the Class1-4 school. Let’s leave the school in its...

A lovely bungalow stacked among the palm meadows and lush greenery greets your eyes. The rocky landscape visible from the backyard makes you long for a stroll on the hilly terrain. The red-brick padded pathway covered with over bearing trees leading to the main gate and the exteriors of the bungalow made of shining embroidered teakwood. The birds chirping in the background while you adore the panoramic sunrise view, with a beautiful lady and a sip of coffee. My heart is at peace…suddenly I fall down from the bed…it was a dream. A dream that has given me many sleepless nights, a dream that has become a motivation for hard work, and above all a dream which I am desperate to achieve. But right now I am living in Bangalore, the IT capital of India and being an anonymous Software Engineer slugging it out daily in peak traffic(jams). My house, actually apartment, boasts of cemented four walled exteriors with two small balconies. One showing the room view of adjacent apartment’s second floor ...