ON ONE CHRISTMAS-EVE

A CHRISTMAS-EVE

It was Christmas eve and everyone was drunk with bliss. However, I was doomed into distress. It was one such occasion when you feel alienated even amidst the crowd. There was something that was corroding me from inside under the veil of thousands fake smiles.

Probably I was the only one doomed into gloom. Memories are the things that at times eat you harsh from inside and at the same time you love to cling to it ‘cause they are too special to let go. I felt too heavy to face myself in the two-roomed flat of mine and decided to sit at some place in this unknown city.

I secured myself a place in one bench of a beautifully decorated park. And started to recall this very evening a year back It was somewhere in my hometown with my friends. We were a bunch of immature and young fellows who lacked the shrewd complexity of life. Then we were more of a human than gadgetised minions craving for only fame. A year has changed every known face to a complete stranger. I once came across my the then best-friend in a market, when he treated me as a stranger and requited all the friendships with just a corporate smile!

“Strange are the games of tim_____e” thought I! People say “time reveals the real friend” but it is worse to lose all in a go. I fear, in the course of time I would stop trusting people!! Pondering over these sundry bunches of memories I could visualize a similar pack of students jostling around. I smiled to myself and said “…Are they building the memories to shy upon a year later?!!”

Among the hustle and bustle, I my wet eyes could see a little boy running from one people to another awaiting his pack of Santa-caps to be sold. He was very unlike other sellers and this brought my attention towards him. He was hardly 7-8 years old. All he wore was a torn-soiled half-shirt and a black half pant. Albeit from a distance, I could see his bare-foot asking every pebbles’ some warmth at this cold evening. None pitied him, ‘cause ‘‘he may be just another curse of overpopulation!’’ But was it his fault?

“Well!! It may be very awkward to philosophize on  such stuffs on a Christmas-eve,” a portion of my whimsical mind giggled. “But does Christmas make any difference to him!”

Alas! Everyone was overlooking him. all was in a jubilious mood. But his bundle did not have the new-fashioned lighted ones. He was however desperately running from one to another. None bought from him, neither children were attracted to him. One tried to bargain and said “Will you give it for Rs 5/-? Only then can I buy.” He argued a bit but later agreed with a sorrow face. Strange are we!! We waste lakhs on malls, continental foods, and when comes to sharing happiness, feeding an empty stomach, we back out. I basically wasn’t in a mood to discuss such things though but seeing the kid I felt something different. I could see him shivering and selling his caps. At last he struggled his way and sat beside me almost panting. He was utter thin and malnourished but had an unusual spark in his eyes. Seeing me staring, he gave a smile and immediately asked “Will you take a cap, didi? It’s just Rs 10 for tonight. If you take 5, I’ll give them for Rs 40/-”

I smiled and enquired “You have only 10 caps left in your stock, why are you in so much hurry? Today you can find customers all night, right?”

He said in a gloomy tone,” I started with only 15 of them and could sell only 5  since morning. I had to buy food for my sister she might be hungry. Please take one.”

My heart skipped a beat with his words. He was himself a kid and he had to support his sister!!!

I asked” and what about your parents???”

He confessed” I have not met my father ever and my Amma works as maid. she has not been home for 2 days. ” I was arguing with my cruel mind about the truthfulness of his words, when he interrupted “Didi,Please take one madam.”

His approach had an unusual innocence.

I said “I would take 2.” He was overjoyed and in no time and me handed 2 red-caps.

 I asked” by the way, what’s your name?”

“Ali”____ he replied much astonished!

“And what’s your sister’s?”

“Jia...but why?”

“Why!! Well, now I have taken these caps..but  do you know whom I’ve bought it for?”

He seemed much irritated by my unnecessary words. As is he was saying to himself ” give me the money and stop CBI investigation!”

I said “okay, take the money”

And handed a five-hundred rupee note.

Even before receiving he said “Didi I don’t have a change.”

“I know you don’t, and I am not asking for it either…”  smiled I.

He was confused “Didi,   but it’s just Rs20!!”

“Yes, and I give 500… may be on the behalf of Santa” I giggled.

He hesitated “…but?”

I handed it to him and said “and these to caps are for my newly met friend, Ali and his little sister, Jia” and put one of them over his tiny head. He was taken aback and almost cried with joy. “Thank You didi…no one ever…”

he could speak no further and tears chocked him. I patted on his shoulder and said “Hey champ .. don’t cry.. you are a great worrier.. you know!! go get some food for you and your sister…and buy some clothes with the rest….hurry..you might be freezing”

He ran joyfully dancing across the street. I shouted “Hey boy… slow ,you will trip!!”

I wondered these people are in so much worry, while we crave for meager ones …

At a distance I could see him buying food from a shop.

Though the amount won’t improve his condition in any way, neither could I provide him any sort of shelter from his hard life but the smile in his face was all that I could gift myself on this Christmas. It was sweeter than chocolate cakes.

Those sparkles of joy in his soul worth more than a million dollar to me. And I won’t mind giving my entire savings to it!!!___I thought.

My logical mind gave me a frowning look and said “It’s too much now Bidisha, you are the most miser creature born in this planet -_-“

I looked at my phone it was 8:20 pm. And I smiled my way back into my flat in a happy mood!!!  :)

                

                                                     _________Bidisha

                                                            Merry Christmas