The Reluctant Pickpocket

Carlos, brought up in a Ceausescu era orphanage in Bucharest is kidnapped and trafficked to Manchester to work as a pickpocket. His old friend, Chobbie, is also there.

But when Chobbie’s father, searching for his son, is seen in the neighbourhood, Alexandru (boys’ handler) has the father and son murdered. Carlos, fearing for his own safety, runs away to London. But before absconding he steals money and a photograph from Alexandru. Photograph is evidence Alexandru is having an affair with his own boss’s (Dimitru) wife.

Alone in London, desperate for money, he picks an old man’s wallet at a train station. The wallet has no money, just a touching love letter written by a Saira, addressed to a Michael. It’s clear the letter has lived in Michael’s wallet for forty years. He is so moved by the content and guilt ridden he vows to find Michael and hand it back. But the letter only has Saira’s address. To reach Michael he will have to find Saira first.

He embarks on the mission, bordering on obsession, to find Saira. The search takes him to several places in London and Bedfordshire.

Eventually when he finds Saira he is astounded to learn she is still in love with Michael although they had lost contact when he had joined the army and posted abroad. He feels Michael too would still be in love with Saira. So his goals have shifted from merely returning the letter to a more ambitious task of reuniting them.

Meanwhile, Alexandru, fearing blackmail, demands the return of the photograph. But Carlos has by now lost the photo. Alexandru does not believe him and is assaulted by his men.

Frightened he goes to the local church for solace where he meets Liam, a police officer. He asks Liam for help. Liam helps find Michael to an address in Ealing. Carlos meets Michael and finds he is keen to meet Saira too. But before the meeting can be arranged Carlos is again assaulted by Alexandru’s men. He is hospitalised this time. He finally makes a full confession to Liam about his life as a pickpocket, knowing it could lead to imprisonment or deportation to Bucharest.

Liam picks up where Carlos had left off and facilitates Saira and Michael’s reunion.

Two months later, while still in hospital, Carlos receives an invitation to a wedding, of Saira and Michael’s.