Kolkata Morning

It's 5AM on the Kolkata street I am travelling on. Driving through a city coming to life. Slowly. Beautifully.
The street lights are still on , though the sun is bright enough for visibility already.
We pass through sleepy streets to come to a road side marketplace selling old used clothes. The clothesellers are busy setting shop. There are surprisingly many customers milling around. People are busy trying sizes by holding up the garments to their body, and haggling for the price simultaneously.
Rickshaw pullers are busy cleaning and getting their rikshaws ready for the first 'sawari' of the day.
The samosa shop has already started frying fresh batches and kept out yesterday's sweets to be sold at a low price.
The corner paan shop is buzzing with those in need of early morning beedi and paan.
The tea seller walks around hawking with his aluminum kettle and small paper cups. This morning sees him doing the best business of all.
A girl in a lurid yellow dress sits on the pavement. A dress like that, with the kind of make up she wears, makes me take a second look. She looks tired. The eyes with kajal smudges tells her story. She is tired after work just like anyone else. She also went about her business just like all those around her. Yet, she has no place in this 'civilised' market. The milling crowd gives her a wide berth even though they jostle to give her a second look.
The tea seller approaches her. Normally. She asks for a cup of tea, and he gives it to her. He doesn't believe in saying no to business, or maybe he is a gentle soul.
The girl in the yellow dress sits under the unnecessarily bright street light, bearing the scrutiny of men who would prefer she remains in the dark.
But as I said,  the street light is on without reason...the sun has lit up the world equally for all.