Down Park avenue

Imran Sayyed is one of the many pay n' park ticket-giving boys on Main Street. A tribe many motorists wish didn't exist, especially when...

Imran Sayyed is one of the many pay n8217; park ticket-giving boys on Main Street. A tribe many motorists wish didn8217;t exist, especially when in a tearing hurry they still have to fish out a non-existent rupee from their messy purses and hand it out to these persistent young men.

At 19, Imran is a Std. VII drop-out from an English medium school. Why did he quit school? Because he was bored with academics. And he also happens to be the bread-winner of the family.

His 12-hour day starts at 9.30 a.m. All day long, he hands out little white slips to people and collects money in return. Initially, many would put up a fight to pay, he reveals. Now, of course, although paying for parking in the area has become routine, many still like to grumble. This happens when they have parked for more than four hours and have to pay the extra Rs. 2 to 3.

It is the men who create most fuss, says Sayyed, the ladies are much nicer and pay without a fuss. 8220;Some men slink away without paying and there is absolutely no way they can be stopped,8221; he says with a shrug, obviously not too pleased with these slippery eels. The evenings are usually a whirlwind affair. It is hard work keeping up with the shopping crowd and the rush hour traffic. Especially since his beat8217; happens to be the area that is almost opposite Pasteur and Marz-o-Rin. One doesn8217;t need any imagination to picture the crowd at these two popular joints. But Sayyed likes the place, its USP being the two trees that provide lots of shade.

Lunch is a hurried activity for him, as it is with his friends too. Everybody pitches in for the other 8211; if one is grabbing a bite to eat, the other looks after his turf, which is not an easy task. But what if you have to this all day long? Well, that is 8220;bad luck,8221; he says. Besides collecting money, these pay n8217; park boys have to see that the vehicles are parked within the line marked. Most people oblige but at other times, when the vehicle is not parked right, the boys move it themselves for otherwise it could get hauled up. They also have to be careful of thieves, especially when there are bags in the vehicle. Imran remembers, not without great relief, the time a bag was stolen. Thankfully, the police caught the thief.

At the end of his long day, he is paid Rs. 50 to 60 after having collected around Rs. 150 to 200. He would very much like another job if he could get one. Until then, he enjoys his Sunday holidays, when he spends time at home with his parents and sisters. He also enjoys Fridays; that is the day he gets time off for his namaaz. But before more conversation can take place, a bike rumbles in. Once again, he is back on duty, collaring8217; more riders!