Delhiwale: A head that wears the forest

A glimpse into the life of a young labourer.

His face is almost invisible under the huge load of goat fodder he is carrying on his head. All that you see are glimpses of his glinting eyes and flashes of his nose and lips. The young man is dressed in a green T-shirt and black shorts printed with the word “TikTok”. He’s walking along a central Delhi alley.

Kalu is in his late teens. A labourer, he says he does whatever assignment comes his way. (HT Photo)

“These are leaves from the gular trees,” he says, introducing himself as Kalu. His voice seems to be coming out of the green bundle, as one cannot see his mouth.

Kalu is in his late teens. A labourer, he says he does whatever assignment comes his way. “Right now I’m transporting fodder from a supplier to a stall in the bazaar,” he informs. Kalu has never been to a school. He frees his right arm and flicks his palm, in synchronisation with his speech. “Mummy Papa gone.”

Kalu was very young when his parents passed away, he says. Without being prompted, he discloses that he is not from some far-off part of the country, but from this very city. “I was born in Delhi.” His half-hidden lips spread into a very visible smile, revealing his paan-stained teeth.

So who does he live with?

Kalu’s eyes continue to sparkle as he shakes his head. The bundle is almost like a mini-jungle in itself, and moves with him. He explains that he is alone in the “duniya”, the world.

He sleeps on the footpath nearby, outside the closed shutters of a motor pump shop. “Many other labourers sleep there.”

And who cooks his meals?

He again shakes his head, more vigorously. “I have nobody, I myself look after my food.” He doesn’t cook, because he explains he has no stove. “I eat outside, in the dhabas.”

Kalu says he doesn’t feel alone, though. He has many friends who are like his brothers and sisters. “When I fall ill they look after me... once they even took me to a doctor.”

Besides, he doesn’t find time to feel lonely. In his free time, he watches movies and music videos on his cellphone, though right now it’s not with him. He has left it in his bag, a bag he keeps safe in the custody of one of his friends, close to where he sleeps at night.

While Kalu’s days are hectic, he does avail himself a few hours of rest in the afternoon. These days, he spends it watching film bits starring Shah Rukh Khan on YouTube.

“He is better than Salman (Khan),” Kalu observes.

“Shah Rukh dances better, though he doesn’t have as much muscle as Salman.” The boy is talking of both the superstars very casually, and uses only their first names, as if he were on friendly terms with them.

But now Kalu politely asks to be excused. He quickly wants to complete his assignment so that he can rush to the dhaba he frequents for his breakfast — bun with butter, and a glass of “doodh chai”. He walks away, his face hidden under his load. It’s a surreal sight.