Fortune smiles on someone…a phrase to say that someone is lucky to have something in their life and if you are the one, you should always help others to enlighten their fortune. And I think I am the luckiest person of this world that I got many chances in my life to do the same.
Sometimes God shower all his love on someone and sometimes he test the people to decide whether to shower his love only or also he has to be kind with the person...if u belong to the first category, it means you are enough strong to deal with your life problems with the help of his love only…& if u belong to the second category, you need some help from first category people to deal your life problems.
But the reality is we are the mixture of both the categories. Sometimes we handle the biggest problems of our life being so calm and thinking out of the box while few times we shattered and failed to face the normal hurdles come in our way…We don’t understand God’s omens which he send to strengthen us like a butterfly lives as much life as it struggles to come out of its shell.
I am also the mixture but I always try to be the first one as I am a kind of selfish...I always prefer my happiness and I always feel happy by helping other. So, I am always keen to find ways through which I can help anyone who is needy in anyway.
The story is about a child to whom I met at one of my favorite place in this world, the place where I feel like I am in a different world or sometimes in a different galaxy living my type of life so peacefully n being serene…LIBRARY it is!!
FIRST MEETING
As the normal days I was in the library, in the afternoon, it was my 3rd year of Engineering and none of my classmate was interested in attending classes. At that time I lived in a hostel, out of my college campus, so it was so boring to be alone in my room. So I decided to spent most of my time at my favorite place. Suddenly a boy, may be of 10, came inside holding some newspapers instead of books as the normal boy of his age should have done. The boy caught my attention, which was so hard for anyone when I am busy with my books, he was talking to our librarian madam & he was refusing what she was offering him. After few minutes, madam came to us and advised all of us to buy at least one newspaper daily from that boy because he never accept anything bare...he always prefer something to exchange & as he had only newspapers, only thing he could afford at that time, he always accept money when u would buy his newspaper. All the faculties in the library offered him some help but he refused to accept anything from anyone. Then he asked, “May I go inside to read some books??” This time madam refused & not so cheerfully, she said, “It is for students of this college only because the library has all the books related to their engineering syllabi”. Then he cheerfully replied, “Then I will definitely become the part of this college one day…!”
After hearing his reply I was so sure that really there was something in him which was attracting me to think about him. I checked my pocket but I found nothing, then I tried my luck one more time searching my bag and thanks to Jesus that I found 5 pennies out of my usual return fare. So, I was so elated when I bought the newspaper which worth only 2 but still there were students who refused buying anything from him by saying that they already have a morning newspaper in their house & they didn’t want to waste their money...they were those people who never think before spending their money on useless things but on that day they were behaving as the most responsible children of their parents trying to save every penny, their parents earned from a lot of hard work. Then one of my friend, quite emotional, offered him a pack of biscuit but as I anticipated, he refused it too. She felt bad & she was continuously repeating her words, “He should have taken the pack at least because it’s a closed biscuit pack & how could I do anything wrong with this pack...” After 5 minutes, she came to me & insisted me to give that pack to the boy. I know her, as much she was emotional, as much stubborn she was. So, on her request I went to him & again offered the pack advising him to take the pack with himself if he didn’t want to eat those biscuits at that moment but following my expectations, he again refused. This time, being so curious I asked him the reason of not accepting anything from anyone!!
He said, “My mother ordered me not to accept anything from anonymous persons when I am not with you…if I will accept anything, she will definitely going to beat me.” Then my friend offered him to eat those biscuits right now, in this way his mother wouldn’t be able to know anything. Then he said only one line which directly touched my heart like an arrow which I didn’t want to remove ever… “I can’t betray my mother by breaking her trust…!”
OTHER MEETINGS
So, that was my first meeting with the boy and after that day I used to spend most of my time in library so that I can meet him & buy at least one newspaper. Two rupees was quite nothing for me of course, but it was more than enough for him. Once, a boy asked him whether he can read or not as he had a lot of books which he can share with him. He said, “Of course…I love story books.”
After that day, I use to keep some story books with me which I can give him but many days passed & there was no sign of him, neither in the library nor in the college or even not in the outskirts. I had no idea about his place or his family. After a month, I again saw him & I was upset as the very that day, I changed my bag & my new bag contained no such books. I was feeling bad so I called him & asked about his family & interests & he told me as much as he was allowed to reveal, being so elated. I must say, if God is lacking you for one thing, he has definitely given you some other thing more than you needed & about that boy, it was his smile. I always noticed him smiling & talking so cheerfully with every person he met in my college.
HIS LIFE
He told me his name, Ram, his father went to jail years ago & because of that his mother has no option instead of being a labor as she was not educated & not eligible for any other job. His elder sister was living with his maternal grandparents while the younger was staying with Ram & his mother. He told me that he love reading books in Hindi & he could also read English but can’t understand. He was the student of class 7th & when I was curious about how his mother managed their school fee, he praised his principal as he didn’t ask for the fee in last few years. On that day, I realized God has created many good people in this world who always remain ready to help others but he has created some bad ones too so that we can value those good ones.
MY CONNECTION
The very next day, I offered him some story books & he cheerfully accepted them. I also offered him to taught English if he wants & he was so happy getting this help from me. After our daily meetings, a connection was established between us & at the day of my last exam of current semester, he came to me & asked for some pen for himself & also some pencils for his younger sister. I was so happy that first time he wants something from us & in that joy I offered him everything I had in my box at that time & I also emptied my friends’ pencil box. I can say, on that day I was the happiest person on this Earth because when someone shows trust and believe in you, this is the only thing which could motivate you to do more good and also elated your mood anytime.
I can’t forget that day...it was the day to worship lord Ganesha, the day we called Ganesha chaturthi. We met after a long holidays of mine, I saw him collecting money like we did in our childhood on some festivals. As I came into the radar of his sight, he started running towards me, I can easily deduct from his facial expressions that he was so sure of getting something he wanted on that day. As he reached where I was standing, he describe me everything in just a single breathe, “Today is Ganesha chaturthi, I also want an idol of him, a coconut & some sweets so that I can also worship on his very special day. I want his idol with a snake covering him & for all, I want 121 rupees, please share something.”
When I checked my pockets, I found only two hopes for him, a 10 rupee note or a 100 rupee note. Without thinking much, as he was asking for a good cause, I shared 100 rupees to his donation box &he was so amazed & asked me, “All for me??” He already had 11 more rupees & he want 10 more so I offered him that share also but he refused to accept more pennies from me as I shared more than enough according to him. That day, I realized the mature person hidden inside his skin. Then I told other students to share something so that he can buy what he wanted.
For next one month, there was again no sign of him in the college. I was so worried why he was not coming. Suddenly, one day when I was leaving the college, I saw him selling newspaper. I was in a shared auto & from the window; I started calling his name & my demeanor rest others puzzling for sure as I was behaving like a child who wants balloon from the roadside vendor. I asked to stop the vehicle & without wasting a single second, I went to him & asked the reason of his absence. He told me that before a month whatever money he earned, spent it on his medicines as he was suffering from typhoid & gave nothing to his boss. So his boss denied giving more newspapers until he would return his share. Then I asked how he managed to come today?? He said one boy ,from our college, gave him some money which he returned to his boss & that’s why he got his job back & his health was also recovering so his mother allowed him to come. I was really happy for the boy & from the very inside of me; I want to thank the boy who helped Ram. I never understand the connection between us but every time, I see him I feel like I can do anything for him.
PRESENT
Today, I met him after so many days & within a second, he saw me, he came to me. I bought a newspaper & again asked the reason of his long absence. I don’t know why but our director sir stopped him to come to our college so he kept selling his newspaper on the traffic only & as today director sir was absent, he managed to come. He again asked me for the books as the books I gave him earlier, was taken away by one of his cousin. I promised him to give some more when I would be back from my holidays. He was shocked hearing that I am living in a hostel & amazed how I managed to be away from my mother!! I uttered in the inside of me, in the very same way you managed to be away from your father…
I am still confused to which category he belongs…not the first one because he can’t handle his problems alone, he need some support. And of course not the second one because I can confidently say that he is not weak...so which category!!!
I saw a kind of confidence on his face that he would definitely going to change his fate one day & everyone will believe that if you have the guts, you can prove that FORTUNE SMILES ON ANYONE…!!
"TIARA"