A TWILIGHT ON SLUM ROADS

 

When darkness encroaches the city

The motorbikes slow their speeds and run over the bumps. They then hoot continuously to disperse the occupied road as they speed. Terrified, legs wobble to the opposite sides as bodies collide against others. A master comfortably avoids collision. You must have lived in such a place for a year or so before you mind your business on the dusty crowded roads.

Different kinds of business undergo optimal operation while others close down as the darkness gets denser. There are no street lights for them. They know holes (not potholes) and bumps on the way and can vividly trace their day steps to avoid injuries. Groceries are busy to serve the increased buyers who were not there in the day when the leafy vegetables were still buoyant with water. A mother is soon helped at the stall by her children who have lately come from school. They scramble for the fallen leaves. He who shouts louder with a ‘favourable’ price of tomatoes attracts everyone. It does not matter whether they are in good quality. What price do they sell?

A car passes by speedily with full headlights. It leaves a cloud of smoke that chokes a new person on the way. It is long since the dust was settled by rain. Though rain will be happily welcomed, it is better to surge in dust than in mud and blocked sewers. The dust is quickly attracted to  foods being fried on the road sides- fish, kaa ngumus, mutura and French fries. It doesn’t matter. Hunger knows no dust or germs. If there was time-which always never is- one would avoid street foods. They save big.

Some are in groups and talk as per their walk. Those in hurry utter many words in a few stretches. And those, ironically taking a stride in such a busy hour, leisurely talk. They are the ones who cause human traffic when a lorry and a motorbike pass each other. There is no space left for passengers. Sides are occupied by temporal shops. Till the machines part, there is no movement. It adds that some of the slow walkers are staggers from effects of liquor. They have an advantage over a sober man. At least they won’t mind the dust and many legs on the road.

Children and the aged are glued to the silver screens on the road. They are in no hurry to chase the darkness. Two stalls that are separated by an imaginary boundary showcase different items and their volumes are at their full blast. It is only when you are near that you can discern voices, the rather noise away. The noise, combined by the callings of hawkers and hooting of locomotives create a violent environment. It adds desperation to the poor men and women who are returning from their wage labour places. It would continue to their single rooms where neighbours are not sound sensitive to have their radios in low tones.

Children work out to find ways to meander among the tall people. They sometimes end up accidentally being stepped on. If one does not know how to ‘walk’, their slippers are stepped on and risk bare footing. It calls for a careful walk. It is not easy to afford the pair. Coins still have value among some goods on the way but not slippers to say. Sometimes a careless cut of the slippers would attract a beating from a parent who sacrificed to buy.

Deeper in the joining paths, the crowd filters to their own doors in singles and doubles. A young man lowly talks to a lady beside. It won't be long till he hints his want. And if the lady gives in, a corner will be the bed for the new being in the area. Rooms have no privacy in there. One, of four corners can accommodate as many as a father, mother, children and grandchildren. Crowding finds its way into the rooms and one would opt to leisurely walk on the road than to be early in the house. They may be attracted to the the pubs, video shows or football broadcasts. In there are seasonal friends who offer nothing but a fake company that thinking you are many in the modern violent life, you are alone, struggling to meander on the polluted land and have your way out.