Working Class Heroes

*Tee -Tee -Tee -Te -Te -Tee -Tee -Tee*,    *Trun-Trun-Trun-Trun*,    *Wake Up Sid*

3 alarms, 3 locations, 3 lives - 6 AM.

*Tee -Tee -Tee -Te -Te -Tee -Tee -Tee*

Deepak who had been awake for past 5 minutes, reaches for his Nokia C3 to turn off the alarm. Sitting up in his sleeping mat, he looks at his wife and children sleeping in peace. With a hopeful smile he turns to his wife and stirs her up, "Aeji, get up. Its past 6 already. The alarm has been ringing for a long time. Get up, I'll be late today."

In her sleepy voice she replied, "Hmm.. Its not late I know. I saw you turning off the alarm." Carefully setting herself free from her young daughters cuddle, she woke and went in to the kitchen, washed her face and called out, "Ooji, go take a shower, and fill the buckets as well before the water stops". Then she went on with preparing breakfast and tiffin for her husband.

Deepak got up folding the bed-sheets and the mat and went in. The problem with living in this small room of the chawl was that municipal water supply was limited. Every morning he would have to fill water in the multiple buckets that occupied more than half of the bathroom. Adjustment was the key to his life. Trying to finish his bath, while avoiding the dirty water from spilling in the buckets was a talent that he had acquired in his 30 years of stay in this one room kitchen.

*Trun-Trun-Trun-Trun*

The thin fingers of Supriya, tapped randomly on the screen of her iPhone, whilst she lay on her foam mattress bed, cuddling her husband. The alarm went off, only to start again in 5 minutes. Finally, waking up she turned off the irritating alarm, and began scrolling through her notifications. Her best friend in USA had WhatsApp-ed her to call back, urgent. Getting up she moved to the balcony, the phone to her ears. "Hey Poo, what happened? whats so urgent?" "Seriously!" "You wanted it, right?" "Wow!! Congrats dear. I'm happy for you. I'll tell Ajay." "Chal, I'll call you back later in the evening. Take care. Goodbye."

She walked back to the bed, calling, "Ajay. Wake up. I got news for you"

"Huh.. Later honey. Please." and he drifted back in his sleep.

She entered the bathroom, undressed and turned on the shower. As the water droplets hit her face she was thinking. So happy Pooja would be right now with this news of pregnancy. I wish she was here. I could take care of her, and her kid as well. Hope, someday I will get the chance. And then her happiness for her friend faded as she thought about herself. She had been married for 7 years now, but she couldn't conceive. They had tried everything in their power, but in vain. The gloom seemed to grow, until she wiped herself dry, covered up and stepped out.

Ajay was sitting on the bed looking at her. "So Su, what was the news you were talking about?"

"Pooja is pregnant. Isn't it great!"

"Oh! Wonderful!" He could see the gloom under her masked happiness. He went to her and hugged her.

*Wake Up Sid*

Akshay pushed himself from the floor. He was sleeping, half on the floor, half on the bean bag. Turning left and right, looking for his phone, which was unceasingly going *Wake Up Sid*. He swayed to his room from the hall, toppling a few empty beer bottles. Saw Sameer sleeping on his mattress, with a pool of puke on one side and his phone was buzzing inches away from it. Picking up his Moto G, turned off the alarm and quickly dashed to the shower. Sitting under the tap, cause the bucket and the mug were  filled with ash and cigarette butts. he was thinking about all that had happened the previous night. Everything seemed to be a blur now, fragments of memory flowing in and out of his head. The only course of action now was to convince the maid to clean the 1BHK flat, while he slogged in office.

*The next train will arrive in 10 minutes*

As the announcements were going on, Deepak got to the platform. He always wore a well ironed shirt, trouser with a pair of black polished shoes, which he did himself, every morning. With the graying hair and a small brief-case in one hand, he always looked like the guy who owned a small corporate firm.

A minute later came Supriya sliding up on the escalator. Her attire - tailored formals, leather bag in a hand, iPhone in the other, pony tail hair - perfectly matched for her position of Sales Manager in a MNC. As she stepped onto the platform, Deepak began to think - Hope, my daughter grows up to be like her. I will work my entire life if I have to, to get her to this level. Then their eyes met and smiles exchanged. Supriya searched for another familiar face in the crowd.

A few minutes before the train could arrive, the familiar face of Akshay came running in. Breathing heavily he began searching for a handkerchief to wipe his face. Supriya - looking at him hoped someday she could have a son like him. While, Akshay's eyes fell on Deepak - hoping someday he will have that leisure job.

As the train came in to a halt, the 3 looked at each other, exchanged a smile and got in. No words spoken, but a lot said.

And so our Working Class Heroes went on with their routine with a Hope.