Sunny Kumar (9) and Rinku (11) spend around two hours in the evening at a café in Shastri Nagar locality almost daily.
Only that Sunny and Rinku are rag pickers and they spend a princely sum of Rs 40 each evening, which constitutes more than one-tenth of their daily income of Rs 300. The cafes charge around Rs 20 for an hour for playing video games.
These two are not the only ones, who have taken to computer games. Many kids from underprivileged families have started playing videos at cafes. Computer games are no more the domain of children from affluent families in Motihari town. After moving in various lanes and by-lanes of the town to pick up items to be sold to scrap dealers, these children have devised this unique way to unwind.
Moreover, these children have learnt to operate the keyboard and mouse by themselves and have picked up necessary skills by observing others. "I used to see youths play these games. After watching them for a few days, I could decipher that certain keys of the keyboard had to be used to play the game. I, too, tried my hand in the game and now it has become my hobby, Rinku told The Telegraph.
Sunny echoed a similar view. "One needs to master a few things to become a champ and I am one now," he said.
None of these children has ever gone to school and their families depend on their daily income. "We give a major portion of our daily income to our family but we too have a right to unwind after a hard day's work. I don't mind spending a little for recreation," Rinku said.
The boy, however, admitted that initially, he was hesitant to enter the café fearing the owner might not allow him. Overcoming his fear, Rinku took his first step and now it has become one of his favourite places outside home.
Café owner Dineshwar Prasad Verma has no complaints, as these two have never faulted on payment. "I am here to provide a service and these boys are very particular about payment. They have never faulted in paying the user charge. They have never mishandled the machine," Dineshwar said.
He added: "I was a bit hesitant to let them enter at first, but with passage of time, things became normal."
Apart from Rinku and Sunny, several others in the same age group have picked up the habit. "A group of three young rag pickers, Rajesh, Pintu and Rakesh, visit my café regularly. I am amazed to see their gaming skills. These kids, if given an opportunity, can do well in studies as well," said Ramashankar Prasad, whose café is located near Chatauni Chowk.
Sunil Kumar, another cyber café owner, said he gets several young rag pickers as regular clients.
The parents of these kids are not complaining though their kids are spending a part of their meagre income on entertainment.
"I feel proud because my son has acquired skills generally considered to be the domain of children of rich people," said Ram Prasad Malli, Rinku's father.
