Seen Comprehension - 35 Alim

Professions with a difference  

When you are crossing the road and your vehicle  gets stuck in a seemingly never-ending jam in Dhaka city, every few minutes a boy or girl comes to you and tries to sell a bunch of roses or rajanigandha saying "Bhaiya (or Apa depending on your gender) ' ei koita ful niya jan' (please buy these flowers)". They do not tire and will pursue you relentlessly, at least as long as the jam lasts.  If you are alone they will say that you must take the flowers for their bhabis-meaning your girlfriend or wife. You often get annoyed at their ways and shout at them. It has very little effect and often you are forced to accept their demand and console yourself by thinking that it was after all in good bargain. However, how they manage to sell the flowers at such a cheap price really bewilders you. And they are not very forthcoming with their answers, if you ask them.

These kids are seen in some particular spots of the city. The Sheraton and the Panthapath roads of  Dhaka city are two such places. Invariably, you may find an interesting character or two among them. There is this guy who is something of a sardar among the flower peddlers at Kawran Bazar. He is perhaps the smallest of the bunch but he rules his disciples with an iron hand. 

However, whenever I see one of these kids I can't but-call me an emotional fool if you may -- think that it is not their love of flowers that make them do what they are doing. It is all-consuming poverty which is the reason. We all know that instead of being in the streets they should be in school. Their means of livelihood is in itself an irony. It is a satire on those of us who shout at the top of their voice for the rights of children. It makes us think of the realities of our society which force these kids to wage an endless struggle against all odds to keep their heads above water. (Adapted from the Daily Star)