Defying The Obvious

 

 

In the midst of shower Raju felt like a lonely sky, he stood in front of a sweet-shop hunger was redefining itself through the face of Raju. His tongue had not felt any taste since 2 days, bones were merely covered with flesh, a ripped shirt, and pair of trouser longer than his legs were only noticeable clothing on him. His eyes forgot to blink after watching the sweet coating on one of the sweets, biology was doing its part as juices secreted in his mouth but too much knowledge seemed unfavorable and his tongue started to dry. The sweetness of the rain water could not nullify the sourness of Raju’s cheeks.

The Distance of twenty yards never looked this long, The situation of his pocket and stomach were identical, he sat on footpath opposite to the shop in distress and hunger in the form of tears were rolling down from his eyes, he might be deprived of money but begging was never an option.  A tall stagnant figure was running after the bus with a bag in his hand, rain was not doing any favor in his chase he jumped to avoid a pit and his wallet flanged out of an unzipped pocket, unaware of the loss he continued his pursuit. Raju witnessed the event and looked at the wallet with moist eyes. He stood up and walked towards the wallet, no eyes were on him and he picked up the wallet. The wallet was with 560rs, bus tickets, and a driving license.

His morals were incorruptible but the wallet possesses the key to vanish his starvation, even his family’s hunger could have been nullified with that money. Raju never felt this weak, his heart and brain were contradicting each other, the situation was testing his integrity the line was very thin between being practical and being an altruist. Practicality triumph and he bought a plate of mix sweets worth 20 rupees, sweet was filling the hole in his stomach but no one knew about the impact those bites had on his heart. The sky had stopped weeping, Raju discharged the dish in a dustbin and commenced walk towards his hood.

A tent covered with plastic sheet one bed and a stove this is what Raju’s shelter comprised of. To Raju’s surprise his hood was not filled with water which was the case in every monsoon then he remembered that elections were coming he smiled and sat on the floor besides his mother and two brothers who were sleeping. Filled stomach never felt this empty, his conscience was tearing him apart slowly and gradually. Raju put the wallet besides and started to think. After few minutes he took the driving license out of the wallet and put it back in, his eyebrows were lit there was a sense of determination on his face as such he has decided something.

Next morning he woke up and went to a tea stall nearby his house. Approaching the owner he asked, “Can I work here? The owners watched him in amusement and ask him the reason behind his question. Raju explained the situation, the owner was in shock after knowing Raju’s intentions he couldn’t believe that at this sensitive age how can a tiny boy showcase such probity. He offered Raju a job on daily bases, Raju’s face was the depiction of the happiness that has blossomed inside. Raju worked with dedication for a week and now he was armed with the ammunition he needed for the objective.

Raju wore the neatest looking outfit he had, he told his mother that he’ll be late today and began his journey. He bought sweets and got into a bus. It was dusk when he reached the destination he saw a building in front of him, time had performed irreversible deeds upon the once proud and mighty mansion. The steeple that once could be seen from anywhere in the town owing to its polished glean no longer shined, a rusty relic of ages gone by. Bricks and cement had been eroded away, washing the colors from the once beautiful building. Raju rang the bell, after few minutes of wait the door opened and a tall stagnant figure emerges from behind….

 

 

The coffee was soothing he offered raju bakery biscuits, opening his wallet he found 560rs, his license, and a note…”SORRY” was the only word that note contained, the man gazed at raju while he was eating biscuits in amusement and tapped his back. He introspected that when a boy below the poverty line can showcase such integrity then what on god’s green earth forces him to be a thief…

The bag which was in his hand was stolen and that was the reason why he was running carelessly even in that downpour.

Since that day, the man left the work which imposed stains on his soul.

 

Raju went back home with a broad smile…

 

Raju teaches us that, “one should never allow the situation to get better of them, your morals should never be dependent on the situation, even in adverse circumstances be what you are  because your real character is tested in adverse situations….”

 

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FICTION