Auto 3 AM

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At 3 AM, Rajesh reaches the railway station as it is the time when a few trains arrive at Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway station. As customers come out of the 'exit', he along with other taxi walas, auto walas, private tourist vehicles, and under a cringe shade of previously booked ubers and olas, hunt and chase for the bohni, the days' opening wage starts. Tearing across this crowd, enticing customers with whereabouts, greetings, multiple rate offers, fighting competitors and ignoring neglect, if he gets lucky, the customer is led to the three-wheeled yellow-green auto, his factory.

Rajesh is from Begusarai. He lives along with other fellows near the Gaffar Market in Delhi. It's a men's den, all away from their families and loved ones. Some of them cook their dinner together and some cook lunch. Rajesh is an early bird. He is awake by 2 AM and by 3 AM, he is at work of daily sustenance. Tightly stacked with a semi-woolen scarf, semi-insulated jacket & a sheet of newspaper underneath, he also keeps a woolen kambal sheet to cover his legs while driving, as the auto is open from all sides and the chilling air has the biting tendency that didn't feel like "Aah, it's winter!"

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Antarman se kabhi kabhi

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