Story 46

As Rajesh waited at the bus stand he was aware of the long day ahead. By God's grace, he has got a job today and he had to make it count. Over the years farming has become an unreliable option for farmers, especially those whose forefathers did not make it big during their lifetime. This resulted in few of them taking up loans from the rural banks and there were people like Rajesh who had given their land on lease to the government. The government not only provided them with monetary compensation but also assured them of a permanent job. But Bengal with it's continual changing political colors has made it a long and difficult wait for people like Rajesh.

Finding a window seat, Rajesh made himself comfortable. The excitement was palpable. As the bus zoomed passed the small ponds, barren lands, he saw the "trespassing is prohibited" boards all over the place. Like Rajesh, the owners of these lands must also have sold off their properties to the government.

With the bus speeding down the second Hooghly bridge Rajesh was mesmerized by its architectural beauty. Kolkata always amazed him. It's electrifying energy encouraged him to dream. To live.

As he got down at the penultimate bus stoppage he found the huge mall staring at him. He couldn't even believe his luck that this was his workplace! As he entered the mall and introduced himself to the security guards, they escorted him to the administrator's office.

Rajesh put on the Mickey Mouse suit being fully aware that this was his only chance to impress the officials. He was the prime attraction in today's kid carnival and he knew he had to make it count. It was his son's birthday tomorrow and he needed some money desperately.