Travel Story: "Din ka 50-60 kama leti hun"

Savita is 68 and still earning. She travels daily from Sarojini Nagar to Paharganj and segregates potatoes for unofficial shift spanning across 8 hours. Having shifted from Nagpur around 15 years ago after her husband died of illness because of no money for treatment; she sleeps at a room of 10*10 provided by owners where she worked as domestic help for many years. “I came to Delhi with my two daughters, one in palms, in search for job” she said. “I’m living at the chawl near S.N. Depot from last one decade.” I offered her tea from one of the best tea seller at Minto Road Bus Terminal, to make her more comfortable. On what was shot in the arm for me, was her daily earning being equal to my single meal coupon at Brahmaputra Hostel in JNU. “Kitna kama leti ho?” I asked. “Din ka 50-60 rupees kama leti hun beta, mere liye bahut hai!” she said. “Khane ka ho jata hai bas.”

  During the stopover, before going back to Poorvanchal Hostel, conductor of DTC route no 615, was keen to have a glimpse of what we were talking. While having his food which he called sham ka brunch, he soon joined us, after ordering a tea for driver and himself. “Majboori hai bhai, nahi to kama ke kon raaji”, he said after I explained him the context. On being asked about the ticket price of her destination Kiren, who hails from Bhiwani in Haryana said, “10 rupees but generally we exempt old commuters like her and even DTC ticket checker will let her go.” While we were talking, she silently sipped the chai and had the potato chips that I offered her. “I don’t have teeth but I can taste them”, she said before taking a few in her hand.