launchora_img

Illustration by @luciesalgado

The beggars

Info


They looked at each other and grinned. As the train moved past the quaint village, they knew they had finally made it. There was an eerie silence blowing through the entire coach whose sole occupants were the two silent passengers and the one brown package placed carefully between them. Annie leaned back on the seat and closed her eyes with a silent smile resting upon her lips while Ila watched her closely as her heart raced frantically. Her heart was becoming heavier and heavier. She was so scared that she could able to hear her heartbeats.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Ila don’t know what they did was right or wrong but when she looked at her friend and her slight smile she knew they didn’t do anything wrong. It was their mutual decision to do this and they were feeling content after doing this.

When Annie closed her eyes, she was smiling, but her heart only knows what was she feeling. She still remembered that talk with Ila which they had done a week ago, she knew this was going to be hell a risky thing but still decided to do it. Annie realised that Ila never stopped her from doing this infact she came along with her. They had actually done this together.

At first, Annie didn't want Ila to come into this mess at least she would be able to save one but who would dare to stop a best friend from helping other. Ila fought with her, then she agreed as there was no other option left.

'So, where are we going now?' Ila broke the silence by asking.

Annie opened her eyes and directly touched that brown box to check once. 'Where do you think?' Annie replied while rolling her eyes.

Ila hummed and again there was eerie silence. Then again Annie checked the box that if everything was fine or not. Annie suddenly asked 'Everything, what we had done was right, Ila?'

Ila didn't know what and how to reply her. To some extent, it was right as they were just helping one of them. People might not understand them but they understand each other which is one of the most important things. Ila didn't reply to her. She closed and try to sleep. Here, the key word is try because she also knew it was not possible.

Realizing that Ila is trying to sleep, Annie also closed her eyes to relax.

It was next early morning, the birds were chirping, just the rays of sun was visible. A tranquilizing feeling.

They got out of the train moving towards to complete what they had started. They passed through the railway station and took a rickshaw from outside the station. Ila was clutching that brown box to her chest, as if it contains her life and if someone took it, not only her but Annie dreams would come to a halt.

This brown box was the last hope for them.

Rickshaw started moving towards their destination as soon as they reached the main road, they were shocked to see this much traffic jam. Annie asked the person who was pulling the rickshaw 'Why there is so much traffic?'

'Madam, there is strict checking going on due to the occasion.' The person replied.

'What occasion?' Annie asked.

'You don't know madam? Today is 15 August.' The person replied weirdly.

'Oh shit!' Ila muttered. 'what are we going to do Annie?' Ila whispered in Annie's ear.

At that time, Annie realised that all their hard work, all the planning was going to be just waste. Moreover, if they caught by any of the policeman and start checking them then they won't hesitate to put them behind the bar.

This was so messed up. This was not what they wanted.

'I don't know, this is so messed up.' Annie replied but her voice cracked at the end as if she was going to cry.

'Do something, Annie. This is not what I wanted, what we wanted. Please.' Ila whispered desperately.

'I know.'

Think Annie, think. Do something.

She was looking here and there and suddenly a plan came into her mind. A plan that will change everyone's life but she knew that she need to convince Ila first, then only they would be able to do it.

'I have got a plan but promise me that you will going to follow each and every step of that plan.' Annie whispered so that the rickshaw person would not hear anything.

'What?' Ila asked in relief.

'Just promise first.'

Ila was not sure that she should do this promise or not but she knew this is just going to end bad if she didn't do anything according to the plan. So she just nodded.

'Okay, so when we reach there, I will distract the police officers, At that time you will take advantage of that situation and run away from there with the box. ' Annie explained very calmly.

'What?? Have you gone mad? I am doing no such thing. We are in this together, we will get through this together, I am not leaving you alone here.' Ila said and shockingly loud too.

'Shh.. Listen, we have taken so much problem for one person and if this box didn't reach to that person then everything will just go in vain. Please try and understand.' Annie explained Ila very calmly. 'I will call or text you as soon as I get away from them. Just do this Ila and everything will be fine.'

A lone tear fallen from the Ila eye. She knew this is going to be very difficult for her too but still there is a hope ' okay, just promise me you will call.'

' I promise.' Annie said and hugs Ila very tightly.

As there talk ended, there was no time for other things and it was almost their turn for security check so they started to follow their plan.

When it was their turn, they both came down from the rickshaw and just looked at each other for once. Annie nodded at ila and ila also nodded back meant that they were going to start their plan.

When they stand in front of the police officer Annie didn't even wait for anything she just ran away from there after giving a hard push to the officer. She ran fast as she could, she just needed that box to be delivered.

All the officers start running after Annie while saying 'Stop or we'll shoot you'. While Ila took the advantage of the situation and sneaked out. She also ran as fast as she could and reached her destination.

It was almost the evening when Ila reached that place, the place was the small hospital, no, a small clinic. Ila entered that place and there was a fat receptionist present there. Ila hurriedly reached at her desk and told her that she had brought that thing, she also asked her to call the doctor forthwith.

The doctor came after some time, Ila immediately said 'I had brought the blood, please start the surgery.'

While the doctor was doing the surgery, Ila sat down outside the ICU room and started thinking about the last 24 strange hours of her life, that how Annie and Ila both stolen three packets of O negative blood (which is very rare to be found) from the central hospital, how they reached here, how Annie risked her life with the police officer, everything just because of this 8 year old girl, nina, who was being treated by the one of their local doctor of their locality. She didn't even know that if Annie would be able to make it or not. She was just continuously praying for the safety of her best friend and betterment of this 8 year old girl.

Annie, Ila and nina ; these three were from the same group of beggars. Annie and Ila were in this business since they were 10 years old but nina just came 2 years back and it was a hell for her. That girl suffered a lot.

Even nina was in this situation just because of a car had drived over her on footpath and that too in a daylight. Nobody helped that girl while she was suffering from that pain, nobody helped her when she was in a pool of blood.

Not even a single person helped.

Then Annie and Ila took charge to help nina. Obviously they won't be able to sleep at night when they came to know that she need blood and they could not be able to pay, so they decided to stole as their was no other option left.

Both Annie and Ila never regretted for what they did, in fact if they had to do this again, they will. At least that would save a life amongst them.

After some time, the doctor came outside said that nina was out of danger and she'll be able to make it. She just needed time for recovery. But Ila was thinking about Annie, she knew that she will be able to make it. She had no doubt in that. She always does and she always will.

Later at night, she saw Annie walking in the hospital, coming towards her, completely worn out. Nothing was left in her.

'What did the doctor said?' Annie asked.

'Everything is fine.' Ila replied.

'Do you think we don't have right to live? We are just creating everybody's problems?' Annie asked again.

'NO! Not at all! We had lived till now and we will live in future. Humanity, its all because of a this single thing that should be present in all people and the world will become different if people understood the meaning of this whether it is a rich or poor, old or young, Humanity must be present in people. ' Ila said. 


1 Launcher recommend this story
launchora_img

Stay connected to your stories

The beggars

52 Launches

Part of the Life collection

Updated on February 02, 2018

Recommended By

(1)

    WHAT'S THIS STORY ABOUT?

    Characters left :

    Category

    • Life
      Love
      Poetry
      Happenings
      Mystery
      MyPlotTwist
      Culture
      Art
      Politics
      Letters To Juliet
      Society
      Universe
      Self-Help
      Modern Romance
      Fantasy
      Humor
      Something Else
      Adventure
      Commentary
      Confessions
      Crime
      Dark Fantasy
      Dear Diary
      Dear Mom
      Dreams
      Episodic/Serial
      Fan Fiction
      Flash Fiction
      Ideas
      Musings
      Parenting
      Play
      Screenplay
      Self-biography
      Songwriting
      Spirituality
      Travelogue
      Young Adult
      Science Fiction
      Children's Story
      Sci-Fantasy
      Poetry Wars
      Sponsored
      Horror
    Cancel

    You can edit published STORIES

    Language

    Delete Opinion

    Delete Reply

    Report Content


    Are you sure you want to report this content?



    Report Content


    This content has been reported as inappropriate. Our team will look into it ASAP. Thank You!



    By signing up you agree to Launchora's Terms & Policies.

    By signing up you agree to Launchora's Terms & Policies.