Radha’s Chotu

Winters in Delhi are terribly cold! Radha’s short experience of 12 years has made her aware of the difficult winters.

It was here, in a congested street in Delhi, where Radha was born. Ever since she has been accompanying her mother to work, her mother who begs on the streets to earn a living.

Today is a special day for Radha. It is her little brother’s birthday. Radha has three younger siblings but she is particularly close to Chotu, the youngest, probably because she has taken care of him like a mother. Radha was seven years old when Chotu was born. Her mother used to leave him in her care while going out to beg on the streets with her other children.

When Chotu grew old, Radha used to take him with her to the streets. While Radha begged for alms, Chotu used to cling to his sister all day. He still accompanies her to the streets, tightly holding her hand.

Radha got up quickly. It is a cold day but Radha has to hurry. She has to find a nice gift for his little brother before he is awake. She walked to the street, searching on the road side and the bins for something that he would like. She has no money to spend but still, she wants to find him something good.

There is a florist on the other side of the road but will Chotu like flowers? Maybe not…he is too small for it. As Radha wandered on the streets, she noticed a bike speed by. There was a girl sitting on the back seat and hardly had they gone a few meters that the girls scarf flew in the air. Radha shouted back trying to tell her she had dropped something but they were gone.

Radha walked carefully to the middle of the road to pick up the scarf. It was a beautiful pink, and Radha thought Chotu would love it! She wanted to run away with it before its owner realized that it was gone and came back searching. But, her conscience did not allow. So, she sat by the side of the street with the scarf in her hand, waiting for them to return. And at the same time, she wished that they do not return. The scarf was a perfect gift for her little brother and she did not want to loose it. She would tie it around his head like a turban, and she could imagine how sweet he would look!

Luckily for Radha, quite some time had passed and no one returned. She was happy she would not have to part with the scarf and off she went to wake her little brother.

She leaned over Chotu calling his name and the little boy opened his eyes wide to look at her. ‘Chotu aaj tera janm din hai! Today is your birthday!’ she told him and he was excited! He doesn’t know when his birthday falls but he knows it is a special day when he gets something good to eat. And Radha gives him something special – last year she gave him a toy car! One wheel was broken but mother had attached a bottle cap to it and fixed it well.

Chotu got up quickly and smiled cheekily expecting something and there it was! A beautiful pink cloth that Radha asked mother to tie around Chotu’s head; and he danced and shouted in joy waking his other two siblings.

And soon, it was time again for all of them to go to work. Chotu clinged to Radha as he always does, his pink turban tilting to one side, and beamed. He was happy with all the attention! Mother promised to cook something special and his other brother and sister brought him a kite!

Chotu looked at Radha with the kite in his hand and Radha smiled back to him. He knew Radha would teach him, as always. And together they would fly the kite... high up in the sky!