The day was sweltering, typical of summers in Kolkata. The fierce heat of the sun and airless atmosphere of the afternoon was making me drench in sweat by merely waiting for a cab. With no cab willing and agreeing for a short distance ride I reluctantly mounted on a cycle rickshaw (riksha), the hood of the rickshaw gave me the much needed shield from the glaring sun and we got started on our journey. 

“Chollish taka lagbe,” You have to pay Rs.40 – stated the riksha-wala in a brisk and businesslike tone.

Despite me being not a regular taker of cycle rickshaw and visiting Kolkata after several years, I could still make out that he quoted an inflated fare for the small distance I had to cover. The normal practice in Kolkata for such audacity is immediate reprimand, a severe one.  A bong would not hesitate to curse the past seven generations for such temerity.  I mentally justified and dismissed the cost considering the efforts of the rickshaw puller. He was a young man with a boyish look, ramrod straight and wore shirt and trousers unlike other lungi wrapped pullers.

I struck up a conversation with him.

“Sontosh” that is what his name was came from some village in West Medinipur district. He came to Kolkata 16 years ago at a tender age of 10 and worked in a sweet shop for 10 long years before embracing the role of a rickshaw puller. He owned the rickshaw and did not smoke or drink.

“How much did you read,” I enquired.

“I can read, write and understand that’s my education,” said Sontosh while wiping his sweats with a gamcha. I could make out that he wasn’t willing to divulge that he did not receive any formal education; however he had trained himself on little education on his own. How can one expect formal education when he started working at the age of 10? 

Sontosh further shared on my prodding that he earned Rs.400 daily and worked from 8 AM till 9.30 PM. He lives in a rented place and paid a rent of Rs.900 per month. He cooks a humble dinner of rice for himself and is still unmarried. However, he has a big family comprising of parents, brothers and their families, back home.

The most part of the conversation was that he had a clear future plan for himself. 

“I will buy a TOTO in few months”, he declared.  He added further, “It would cost me 1.2 lakhs and very soon it would become legally permissible to own and drive a TOTO in West Bengal. I would go back to my native place and drive TOTO in the district town.” His voice resonated while he said so.

For those wondering, like I did, TOTO is the local name of battery operated auto rickshaw.

By this time I had arrived at my destination, I pulled out a 50 rupee note and gave it to him. He returned a change of Rs.30. 

I looked in askance at him to which he said, again in a brisk and businesslike tone, “You asked me to take you to Dakhshin Para but you are getting down at Dakshin Para Road, both these places are different and fare for this place is Rs.20.”

Sontosh was a person of self-esteem; he was not at all willing to keep the balance money.  

I had to finally convince him by saying, “Keep the balance money as a tiny contribution for your TOTO and give me a free ride when you buy one.”

Sontosh flashed a smile and gracefully kept the change. 

The spark in his eyes still floats in front of my eyes. He turned his rickshaw and rode away leaving behind a thought that everyone should have a dream and work towards achieving it, and, it’s achievable….