ABDUL

Abdul was as fascinated by the crane removing the signage at the Guru Dronacharya Metro Station in Gurgaon, as was I. The Delhi Metro Station is flanked by the upscale Garden Estate on the Eastern side and the Global Business Park that houses the offices of some of the worlds blue chip companies on the Western side.

It was exactly a year ago that I saw the Metro signage going up a couple of stops up the road at the MG Road Station. Services on this line commenced in the summer of 2010. So here they were coming down and when I inquired as to what was happening, I was told that the signs were not visible at night. So, the new ones, would be lit. LED I gather.

As I waited for the signs to come down, I noticed this teenage boy transfixed by the crane and its crew. Actually, I had not noticed him at all, as he just blended into the scenery, which was rather 'dull' and 'dusty' in the shadow of the station. He was pointed out to me by the crane driver, who had tired of me attempting to photograph him. He pointed in Abdul's direction. Take his photographs too.

As I turned my attention and camera towards Abdul, he remained focused on the happenings with the crane. I got a frown and was then ignored. What caught my attention with Abdul, was hammer like club with a strap that he was holding onto. Nothing unusual about that. Some form of a bat or toy I figured. It turned out to be a 'metal detector'. 3 circular magnets (Chumbak) secured to the base of a wooden club which he uses to sweep anything 'metallic'. On closer inspection I noticed some screws, nails and bottle caps clinging to the 'chumbak'.

Abdul is 12 going on 13.
A street kid, who scavenges metal all day.
He makes Rs.200 (approx 5 $) a day.

I got engrossed in the Metro sign coming down.
When I turned to look for Abdul a little later, he was gone.
I caught a glimpse of him vanishing into Sikanderpur in the distance.