The Santa

I met Santa last night on the corner of Park Street and Russel Street.

He was wearing a red jacket with dirty cotton fluffs on the sleeves. His red flannel cap ,with a white pom-pom at the end, had rolled onto his left shoulder. His cotton beard seemed attached rather precariously and almost coming off at his left temple. He was wearing faded brown jeans with blue hawai chappals.

His eyes peered through this enormous 2018 design googles - his arms were shelves for Santa caps , the extra goggles and caps were in a bag slung across his right shoulder.

A young customer tugged at his red jacket and demanded a cap which his mother paid for, grudgingly, - the princely amount of ten rupees.

A few feet away was another Santa - dressed almost identically. This one was selling battery lit red cloaks and toys. I couldn't see his face which was concealed under a Santa Claus mask.

Santa Brajeswar lives in Howrah. He is from Madhubani in Bihar.

A short distance away from North Pole.


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