Making mistakes is not a crime but blaming others for the mistakes is an inhuman act.

 

Recently I went to a coffee shop and ordered for an Expresso coffee. He brought a plain Nescafe for me. I called him and asked about what I have demanded and what he brought. He paid apologies before me and started taking the cup to bring it as per my order. I asked him to leave as Italian coffee was not oxygen for me, I can have that Nescafe too. The waiter stared at me for a minute. I asked him what happened, he came out of his meditating position and said nothing and went to get other’s orders. At the time of billing he asked my contact number and I gave him without any hesitation. The same night at 11 he called me and said that he never saw a customer like me and that he wanted to share something with him.

I need not to made Nandesh, the waiter, comfortable, but I made myself comfortable as I was an IDOL for him now. We have nearly 20 years of age difference, I am the elder one, so it was not a big deal for me to start an conversation. And he spilled all his desperation that how he came to Mumbai from Himachal Pradesh and started working there. But his boss is so much cruel that he always blames him on every other thing. The café has only 3 waiters as its capacity is very small. The other waiters are from the owner’s near relations so he never says any bad word to him. Nandesh came to this café in search of the job and the owner appointed him. But from the day one he spilled all his frustration on Nandesh. He never realized that what impact will be on Nandesh’s mind. The other waiter also tried to convince the owner but he never listen to them.  Nandesh was frustrated but he did not want to go back to Himachal Pradesh. He knew that some of his relatives were working in Mumbai but he could not found them. He wanted to quit this job and find the new one. He asked 2 of his collogues about it, they also paid sympathy to him, but could not do anything for him. Finally he decided not to stay there in any condition. The next day that incident happened which made Nandesh the bonded labour. 

2 months before he was blamed for the theft in the café. The café owner missed place his Rs. 10,000/- bundled in 2000 notes and he badly blamed Nandesh. Nadesh kept on saying that he do not know about the money but the owner keep on beating him. Lastly he ordered him that since his money are lost he will need to pay 10,000 then only he could leave that job. It was of no use to request the owner. Nandesh was working there without getting any penny. Scolding and blaming has not stopped.  As Nandesh was working on Rs. 2,500/- per month, there were 2 months more to work there.   

2 days before the Nescafe episode happened Nandesh asked his owner that he will pay back his each penny earning somewhere else. His owner scolded on him that how he is going to pay, is he going to get more than the salary he get in there? Nandesh was also not sure that he will pay each penny to him. So again he decided to work there for more 2 months.

Nandesh asked me that he want to leave that job but he could not find any way. I asked him that he will get release from there as no one can keep him hostage for anything. I promised him to help him to be free from that prison. He said that his phone was also kept in owner’s custody. He was calling form other waiter’s phone. I promised that he will get all his belongings. He was pleased by my promise.

The next day I went to the café and asked his owner about everything. I introduced myself as the reporter and threatened him to expose him. He took a U-turn and said that he did not blame him for anything, Nandesh is lying and he is also paying him every month. Nandesh asked him that he was blamed for the theft and he was asked to pay the amount from his salary. The owner become hostile and said that he could not pay Nandesh because he is not getting any benefit from his café. The same way he is also not paying the other 2 waiters. The 2 waiters also nodded in his statement.

Nandesh kept on looking at them. I asked him that there are CCTV cameras in his café so I wanted to see the footages of last 2 months. Owner started crying and said that he only paid the 10,000 to his wholesaler, no one took it. He also started crying that he never scolded and beat Nandesh. I again demanded to see the footages. Then he said that he was sorry for what he did and from that moment Nandesh was free. I asked the owner that he should not make anyone a bonded labour. This is Mumbai and they are not in pre – freedom era. Constitution equally gave the fundamental rights to every citizen. Nandesh did not pick the bundle but even if he did pick it, the owner should have complained it to police. Keeping any one hostage is a crime and he can be behind the bar if Nandesh complained it to police. The owner started requesting me and Nandesh to forgive him. I also warned his 2 other waiters that helping the evil never benefit them in life. The  two were ashamed.



I and Nandesh left that café and Nandesh securing his stuff in his plastic bag, thanks me thousand times. I took him to a restaurant owned by my friend with whom I already had a word about Nandan and he promised me that he will appoint Nandesh in his restaurant. My friend had a short interview of Nandesh appointed him as a asstistant chef there. Nandesh started his work from that moment. I was talking to my friend and he brought Expresso coffee with a large smile and without my order. Then I make him sit with me and ordered another coffee for him and had a nice and free conversation with him taking the sip of aromatic coffee.