A Little Boy’s Hard Work on Delhi’s Streets – A Glimpse of Harsh Reality

ON a quiet roadside in South Delhi, beneath the shade of tall trees, a young boy sits on a blue tarpaulin. In front of him lies a heap of peanuts, neatly piled, and beside them are plastic bags filled with local snacks — chikki (peanut brittle), namkeen, fried lentils, and crispy treats. The boy looks no older than fifteen. A few steps away, a slightly older boy — perhaps his brother — is busy arranging things or sorting through a bag.

The sight is both humbling and heartbreaking. This is the National Capital — New Delhi — a city known for its towering buildings, expensive cafes, and endless rush. Yet, amid all that, scenes like this quietly remind us of another side of the city — one where life is a daily struggle.

It is easy to imagine that this young boy should be in school, learning and playing like any child his age. But poverty often has its own way of shaping destinies. The cost of living in the capital has become unbearable for many — from house rents that rise every year, to electricity bills that can reach ₹9 or ₹10 per unit. For many migrant families, especially those from the North East, the burden is even heavier. Some landlords demand a security deposit of ₹3,000 to ₹5,000, which often becomes nearly impossible to recover when tenants move out. Excuses are made, and the money is conveniently deducted.

For families caught in this cycle, every rupee matters. So, instead of schoolbooks, the boy holds a plastic bag. Instead of a playground, his world is the pavement. Whether passers-by stop to buy from him or simply walk past, we do not know. But what is clear is his quiet strength — the determination in his eyes as he guards his little business of peanuts and snacks.

Life is not a bed of roses. It demands sweat, effort, and persistence. Watching him sit under the Delhi sun is a reminder that behind every handful of peanuts sold, there lies a story of survival, of dreams put on hold, and of endless hope that someday, things will get better.

As the Bible says, “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground” (Genesis 3:19). Hard work remains the only path to sustenance.

There is no substitute for hard work in human life. The little boy’s silent perseverance is a lesson to us all — that even in hardship, dignity and effort shine brighter than despair. His story may be small, but his strength speaks volumes about the human spirit.

~ BRUCE K. THANGKHAL

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