Disclaimer: This is only a
depiction of an incident and not intended to hurt anyone.
It was 1st of Nov'14. Winter
was just approaching after Diwali holidays. Mornings are like chilling in Rourkela
and I was in a hurry to catch the first train to Cuttack at 5.15. Though it's
hard to wake up so early, however I managed it by 4 in the morning. Finished
pack up and arrived station by 5. Routines start so early that I realized when
I saw such a long queue for the tickets, thanks to the fate I had booked it
before. I boarded the train immediately after buying some snacks for me along
with a water bottle. It was the intercity express and I had booked my seat in
the window side chair car berth. The train left the platform exactly on time.
The gusty chilling wind forced me to shut the window and I could enjoy the cool
morning site vaguely. The train caught speed gradually. Post an hour of my journey I
unwrapped the snacks and began eating. The next long halt was at Jharsuguda for
10 minutes. I went outside and bought a cup of tea. It was really disgusting
which I couldn't finish and threw it in the bin. However I boarded again and
took out a pack of biscuits while the train started moving again.
5 minutes past and I heard a
fainting clapping sound and understood the coming of transgender people for
begging money. Truly saying, I do not like them at all begging money to the
passengers in an unmannerly way. I continued eating biscuits. After a while it
came to me and asked for money. I softly refused! Then that trans told me
"Khali khautha" ‘you just eat only' and walked away. I was
relieved that, the trans went away peacefully. After a while it returned with a
bunch of rupees. I was surprised by the earning it made so easily and so early.
The trans came and sat beside me. A few people exchanged money.
I ignored, and continued
being busy with my mobile.
"Internet! Stay busy
always with that mobile!" Trans
told which I ignored with a smile.
"All mobile phones
should be stopped" zie* told
again.
"If mobiles would be
closed do you think internet will be stopped?" I replied.
"Then all laptops too. I
should ask Modi ji to stop all this" Trans answered.
"Ohh nice then, I could
at least save some money!" I replied to the silly statement.
"Give that money to
me" zie uttered immediately.
I remained silent. Meanwhile
the Trans started counting the collected money.
"I did a mehendi on my
hair yesterday, it's still shining" zie told with a bit excitement and breaking the silence. I
looked back and gave an artificial smile and began surfing again on my mobile.
"I'm the same as you! We
are not different from other people. The transgender said normally, not in their typical
manner. I remained quiet and thought of starting a chat, at least to kill time.
I started;
Me. Shall I ask you
something, only if you don't mind!
Trans. I don't mind. Ask!
Me. What's your name?
Trans. Rashmi.
Me. A good name! By the way,
what do you do?
Rashmi. I didn't get you.
Me. I mean what sort of work
you do?
Rashmi. I don't do anything.
I just beg. Actually we are not authorized to do anything.
Me. Ok! But there are two of
your transgender people who run a two wheeler stand in Rourkela bus stop.
Rashmi. I don't know. But we
usually can't do any work.
Me. What do you do with so
much of money?
Rashmi. I run my family and
sometimes we do donate too.
Me. So, you have a family?
Rashmi. Yes! It includes my
parents and my younger brother. I have to look after them and my brother is
studying too.
Me. Where is your family?
Rashmi. In Jharsuguda. This
is the place where I was born.
Me. You donate! Whom ?
Rashmi. To our community. We
have a community which works for our welfare. Sometimes it provides fund for
some noble purpose too. There is a head
of every local area who collects money and lead us. We have to move out of
state during meets.
Me. That’s really a good work
you people do. I appreciate.
The next station was
Sambalpur. Time passed talking to a different kind of person. Yet I think they
are capable. Capable of earning like those who work in a two wheeler stand.
They beg but we can't count them in the list of beggars. Transgender people
these days are doing so many works and live in a society of common people. They
must contribute towards the nation and must join hands in a developing country
like India rather than asking money in a tough manner.
*ZIE is gender neutral pronoun and here mentions the trans.