Raju the Ear Cleaner
I have known Raju since many years he used to clean ears near my old workspace at Abbas Compound 29 Road and today he wonders why I don't wear the crazy dresses I wore those days one white shoe one black shoe turban rings and silver sticks .
Raju came to Mumbai from Gulbarga Karnataka when he was 19 year old he worked as a helper in the construction field ..but he was not happy so he picked up the ear cleaning trade and he is a Hindu who is a follower of Haji Malang Baba .
He works at the Bandra Talao with two Muslim colleague s from his native town Nabi and Qasim who are now in their village for Qasims daughters marriage .
Raju stays on rent with his family at Mahim I come and sit with him listen to his stories of the Bandra Talao which in the old days was patronized by masseurs and a homosexual pick up joint ..there were a few prostitutes who did business in the nights .
Some thieves operated here as masseurs and would rip rich drunk guys who came for massage robbing them of their wallets and gold chains .
A lot of people came to the Talao to commit suicide he tells me and he is full of stories .
I did not get my ears cleaned today I took these two shots to tell this story...and mind you though I did not clean my ears I paid him.
I shot a few videos too..
One thing he did tell me those rich guys who come in cars to feed the pigeons will not give a rupee to a poor hungry child .
