Poor Boy Story Hindi: Today after many years, I got a chance to go to Haridwar. Saurabh quickly put the things in his car and called his wife Sangeeta.

Saurabh: Sangeeta, hurry up, we will leave early in the morning so that there will be no traffic jam.

Sangeeta: I am coming in just two minutes.

Within some time the car started running on the highway.

Saurabh: If there is no jam, we will reach Haridwar by ten o'clock.

Sangeeta: You drive comfortably, what is the hurry? It won't make any difference if you reach even a little late.

Saurabh: Don't worry, the highways have become so good that the speed increases automatically.

Both of their cars were moving towards their destination, talking to the wind.

Saurabh: Sangeeta, remember one thing, we have to bring Ganga water. The Ganga water in the house has completely exhausted. If I forget, please remind me.

Sangeeta: You shouldn't worry. Well, let me say one thing. It feels so good to take out some time from the hustle and bustle of the day and night and go out for a walk, and that too to get the privilege of taking a bath in the Ganga.

Saurabh: Yes, I was also thinking that we should go somewhere at least once in six months and will do so from now on. No matter how much work you have, you will definitely plan a trip.

While talking, both were moving towards their destination. Had dinner at a dhaba on the way and filled the tank at a petrol pump a short distance away and set out towards our destination.

Seeing what he saw as soon as he reached Haridwar, Saurabh said –

Saurabh: Sangeeta, the view here has changed. So many bridges, so much crowd, where was all this before?

Sangeeta: Yes you are telling the truth.

Both of them took a room in a hotel, kept their luggage there and went towards Har Ki Pauri to take bath.

it was very crowded. Then he found a seven-eight year old child. He was walking behind him saying Saheb Saheb.

Saurabh: What do you want, why are you holding back?

Child: Sir, I know a place where there is very less crowd, you can take bath there.

Saurabh: Okay, tell me.

The child took them to another ghat nearby where only ten to twelve people were bathing.

Saurabh and Sangeeta liked it very much. Saurabh gave ten rupees to the child which he kept and then he said –

Child: Sir, if you want Ganga water, please let me know.

Saurabh: We will fill Ganga water from here. By the way, what is your name?

Child: My name is Bhola. Sir, everyone is bathing here, the water is dirty. I jump from that bridge into the middle of the stream and bring Ganga water. It will cost two hundred rupees.

Sangeeta: No no, we will fill it from here.

Saurabh: Well the child is right. Everyone is taking bath here. It would be great if we get Ganga water from the middle stream.

Bhola: Sir, please give Rs. 150. Anyway, no work has been done since morning.

Saurabh: But you will jump, do you know how to swim?

Bhola: Sir, this is our job, we jump into the Ganga ten times every day. If we ever find a customer like you, then it is fine, otherwise we go down to the Ganga and search for coins, gold and silver.

Sangeeta: Aren't you afraid if you drown?

Bhola: No, we have to do everything to earn our living. Sir, you give fifty rupees and then give two hundred rupees when I give you Ganga water. You keep watching, I will jump from that bridge right in front of you.

Saurabh gives him fifty rupees. Bhola takes the money and starts running towards the bridge.

Sangeeta: Now it will not come. Fifty rupees went down the drain.

Saurabh: No problem.

After some time, they saw Bhola climbing over the bridge, he had a plastic can in his hand. He immediately jumped down. Seeing this, Saurabh and Sangeeta got scared. He kept looking at Bhola for a long time. After some time Bhola came with a can of water.

Saurabh: You are very brave. Here's your money.

Sangeeta: How long have you been doing this work, why do you jump into the Ganges, you can fill a can even by throwing a rope.

Bhola: There are policemen on the bridge and they catch him. One has to hide from them and jump. He will not let you fill the can with rope. Because then everyone will start throwing rope.

Saurabh: Who is there in the house?

Bhola: There is a mother and a younger sister at home. Mother works at home.

Saurabh: How much do you earn in a day?

Bhola: Sir, if we meet someone like you, we earn five-six rupees, otherwise we get coins worth hundred-two rupees. Sometimes, if we are lucky, we get hold of gold and silver.

Having said this, he quickly ran away with the Rs 100 note. He was asking other people there for Ganga water.

Saurabh: Sangeeta, how much money do we earn? Even sitting in such an office, one gets bored with his/her work. Look at this child who is risking his life every day to manage the household expenses.

Sangeeta: Mother Ganga is taking care of him. Who knows how many children work like this to feed themselves and their families.

After coming out from there, we had lunch and then went and stood on the same bridge for some time. There other children were jumping into the Ganga. When we went a little further, we saw that the policemen were holding some children. He was holding the policeman's legs and asking him to leave him. The policemen take money from them and leave them.

Seeing all this I felt very sad. What a great lesson a small child learned in life, how to earn two meals a day for his family by fighting fate.

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