He barely manages without his bear. "But that doesnt seem to concern youranimal lovers who took away my Chunna Bhalu and put him in the zoo. On the ridiculouscharge that I was exploiting the animal," complains 26- year- old Aziz Khan whosebear was rescued from him through court orders about six years ago.
Since then, life has been tough for Aziz Bhalluwallah and his family who live in a one-room tenement in the capitals squalid Katpootli slum. His source of income gone,Aziz has tried his hand at many vocations. And flopped miserably. "A tea- stall and several jobs at kothis have taught me how illequipped I am to be anything but abhaluwallah. I am a maset and we have been in the animal entertainment business forcenturies," he says.
Now reconciled to the fact that Chunna will never be given back to him and too bitterto to acquire another bhalu, Aziz has turned magician. Not that there are many takers.Only an odd birthday party sometimes. "Moreover, hes actually quite bad at it.These are bad days. A bhaluwallah is not supposed to become a magician!" muttersneighbour Ishammuddin. But are burly bears supposed to dance on concrete in congestedcities?