Life of a Street Child

The streets of this city are nothing more than a path of mud and gravel filled with dirt for many of you, but for me it's been everything. My home , my family, my playground. I don't know how I came here, or who brought me here, all I remember is that when I opened my eyes I found myself on the corner of this street. Since then , it has been my best companion in my joy and sorrows.
Like this street that does know of its age, I also do not know how old am I or when was I born? People say am about ten years old, well , they must be right or... I don't know. I actually don't know much. I didn't even know my name off recent, till a young lady walking past this street called out to me by the name of 'Chotu' and since then everyone calls me that.

In this case I sometimes consider this street to be luckier than me. It has a name of its own and everyone seems to know it also!
I want to grow up and be a big man so that everyone knows my name like this streets'
But Bhola kaka; ( he sells chanas to the passerby on the street) he says one needs to go to school to be a big man . They teach everything there, he says.
I do not know what a school is like ; or where is it? who are these people in the school and what do they teach? Whom do they teach? Will they teach me if I meet them?
I ask kaka - why don't I go to a school? He says that one needs money to pay for the fee of the school. Just like you have to give money to from the street, you also have to pay money to study. That's why they take fees.
Well now I need to go, have to sell these papers to get some money . I will save it fro my 'school fees' from now . Bye! meet you at the school next time. Do come to see me there.

-Sakshi