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Fruit of labour on highway
WHEN THE going gets tough, the tough get going. The age-old adage perfectly suits the young pavement rulers of Vijayawada city.
They rule the pavements for 12 hours everyday - from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. -- nearly taking control over the vehicular movement on the National Highway in their eagerness to outsmart one another in the mad race. They are boys of tender age swarming the horizontal expanse of blazing concrete pavements on either side of the highway, selling fruits, nuts and water sachets to the passers-by.
Financial stability and ability to live life comfortably is a luxury they cannot afford. Driven by pangs of hunger, the boys don't hesitate to throw themselves at the mercy of the owners of private vehicles passing on the route. "Hitting the road by 9 a.m., fighting fatigue during prime hours and stay focused as the day progresses is a difficult job,'' admits 14-year-old Sk. Nagul Meera, who comes to the NH-5 from Vadlapudi to hop from one vehicle to the other, selling oranges.
His main targets are owners of sleek cars who contribute a major chunk of his day's earnings. The public nuisance' tag attached to them by the passers-by notwithstanding, he says with a wry smile: "They may consider us a curse. But, we owe our livelihood to them.''
M. Veera Babu of Kanur has also sacrificed his happiness for responsibility sake. Beginning to understand the intricacies of life, he says philosophically: "Many of us hit our lowest point in life when we are at our prime.'' L. Gangaiah of Kamayyatopu area finds himself no match to the energetic boys who eat into a major chunk of his customers.
Regardless of their distressed lives, their optimism reflects the best in nine-year-old Sunkaiah who nurtures a firm belief that just when `we think we are down and out, life has this knack of throwing 99a few surprises at us.'
"I thought starting this job will make things better. It only got worse. But, who knows, I may lead a happy life some day. If we do not believe in ourselves, who will?'' wonders the boy.
By Sujatha Varma P
in Vijayawada
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Life
Bangalore
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Thiruvananthapuram
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