By Raj Lalwani, TwoCircles.net
Sarfaraz and my conversation was like a series of Kya Baat Hais. Sitting afar in the midst of all the scrap and clutter that somehow, somewhere makes up our urban lives, he asked me if I’m a newswala. I nodded and he said, “Kya baat hai.”
He then asked me the cost of my camera. My reply and then his, “Kya baat hai.” Asked me if I’ve been born and brought up in this city. I said yes and he, “Kya baat hai.”
He was laughing while saying the phrase each time and then told me how he has been hired by the scrap dealers who have their godowns closeby, and has been doing this since the past six months.
It’s ridiculously difficult, as compared to his earlier life in Uttar Pradesh, but late in the evening, he looks at the grand Bandra-Worli Sea Link structure and consoles himself. “Use dekhke thodi si khushi mil jaati hai.” The pay is poor, but they give him unlimited chai. I couldn’t resist replying to that with “Kya baat hai.”
TCN series: Ramadan 1436