Us and Them... [Thoughts in the mind of a teenage " red-lights " beggar...]

"Its cold, God I can't stop shivering. What? Is it morning already? [Groans]
I don't see Amma-Babu... they must have left for work. Well, I might as well leave too.

[WALKS]

"Aah! Quite a lot of cars for this time of the day. "
[STARTS WIPING THE WINDOW OF ONE]

"Hmm.. nice looking kid, must be a little older than I am. His shirt looks good.

[NEXT CAR]

Nice car... i wonder how it must feel to sit inside and recline, with no worries about the freezing cold... about food... about Munni... Thank you lady, that makes it Rs. 5 since morning, not bad.

[GREEN LIGHT]

Oh! Here come the thullas (policemen)... I better run before they catch hold of me again...

[SCURRIES AWAY TO THE NEXT LIGHT]

Is that Hari? Man, I hope he doesn't pick a fight... It is his light after all... But I'll explain to him... Munni is down with fever again, we need to get her to a hospital. He'll understand.. hopefully...

[RED LIGHT, CLEANSA CAR'S WINDOW IN THE HOPE OF A COIN OR TWO]

Hey, what a nice looking baby... When I start to ACTUALLY earn, I'll buy Munni lots of dresses like these... She is a pretty kid... but why does she keep getting the damn fever every few days... Oh! that's a nice, big car... and dirty too... the fat lady will surely give me some money...
Hey, why are you shoving me man, I'm just cleaning your car... Damn drivers!

[NEXT CAR]
Mmmm... that ice-cream in the girl's hand sure looks tempting... At least I have tasted an ice-cream, but Raju is ten, and he has never had one.

[AND SO THE DAY PASSES... DUSK]
I think that's enough for today... I should get back home now...Rs. 15 today. It's not much, but Raju, Amma, and Baba would have also earned something... collectively it should be enough to take Munni to the hospital.

[CONTINUES WALKING TO THE HOUSE]
I just hope Munni gets well quickly. I want her to study... the NGO didi said Munni can go to school for free... I don't want her to be like Hari's sisters- wild, screaming at passers-by for money, pulling at their clothes... No, Munni won't beg... I want Munni to study, to become a teacher...

Hey, what is that crowd outside my house...

[BREAKS INTO A RUN]

What's with all the people... hey, let me go... make way...
What??
MUNNI... MUNNI... GET UP... PLEASE... MUNNI... NO...