Istaq Ali :)

‘Buddhi ke baal’ catches everyone’s eye no matter how old you are or from where you come from. I always found this particular thing very fascinating and magical. There was a time when I actually believed that it was someone’s hair. It was result of many stories people told me about it, how everyone takes children for granted. You tell them something and they would trust you blindly. How nice!

Today I met Istaq. A young boy, probably 9 or 10 years old was waiting at the bus stand for his usual bus to come. He was very young but very dynamic and sharp, his eyes said so. I stood behind him with my camera for some time and every time a bus would come the wind would make all the ‘Buddhi ke baal’ packets go round. I loved watching it and thought he would get fascinated if I told him I was taking his pictures. He turned around and I asked him if I could take a few more. He smiled and said, ‘of course!’

The sky welcomed the punctual evening and the scattered street lights gleamed from a height. I asked him to stand under the street light and he looked so good and full of life. The pink color merging with the breeze, his eyes reflecting the passers, his posture defining what he is made of. He looked amazing through the lens. We chatted sitting on the footpath and he opened up immediately and told me that he is from Agra and earns Rs.3000 a month from the person who got him to Pune. His parents live in Agra. When I got up to leave he gave me a packet of Buddhi ke baal, such a nice gesture to end a day and beginning a new one with the hope of meeting more Istaq’s.

Goodnight :)