Wings of Smiles

The curse of unemployment was waiting for him when he stepped out of the college, well knowing that he would have to write hundreds of applications, appear in as many interviews, and inevitable face the rejections. One year passed and nothing that could bring a light of hope appeared. His old father’s pension was barely enough for the survival of the five members. His younger brother and younger sister were too small to understand the difficulties of life, for they mostly remained under the loving shadow of their mother.

He was special because he believed in his talent and he never tried to get a job through any method with required recommendation and bribing the officers who were responsible for appointing young lads in their offices. He believed that if given a chance, he would prove that he was also a useful member to the company, and the society. He knew that his parents would be proud of him and one day all their troubles would be over. His younger brother and sister would be able to go to good schools and colleges. He was so alienated from the dazzle of the world that he never as much as look at the girls who had studied with him or passed by him in the market places. Unlike other young men, he would keep on reading books, magazines, and newspapers. He kept himself updated with the happenings in the world.

He was dependant on the money he received from his father and it was difficult to spare any because most of that was spent on travelling to various places. His old shoes supported him when he wanted to save money, forsaking the idea of going by bus or any other public transport. In a day he walked for more than twenty miles, besides travelling by buses.

Every evening, before going back home, he spent about an hour in a local park, near his house. He would study the faces of the people who came to that park after their hard day of work. Children came with them and he loved watching them play. He remembered that his childhood did not have anything memorable, for after the school he was supposed to help his mother in the house, or run errands to the local shops to buy provisions, which were brought on daily basis. He imagined that one day his younger brother and sister would be playing there and he would be buying ice creams, chocolates, and toys for them. He imagined himself sitting in a big office, ordering his staff during working hours, and driving his own car after the office.

In past one week, he had saved some money, not travelling by buses or any other paid transport, and he wanted to buy chocolates and some books for his younger brother and sister.

Before going to the local market, he decided to go to the park. There was a reason behind it. He had seen a little boy, an orphan, sitting near a bench on the grass in the garden a week before. He wanted to see whether the little child, about seven years old, was still there or not. He wanted to give some money to the little boy.

When he reached his favourite bench in the park, he found the little boy sitting there near the bench. He sat on the bench and turned in the direction of the bench, to his right. The boy raised his eyes and gave him a foolish smile.

The boy’s torn shirt and dirty trousers could easily pass him as a beggar who was there to seek alms but he was surprised that the boy never spread his palms in front of any passerby.

He smiled back and motioned the boy to come and sit by him on the bench. The boy was shy and he refused to obey his command.

“Do you want something to eat?” he said to the boy.

The boy smiled again, as if something pleasant had been said to him but he did not respond.

“Where are your parents?”

The boy’s smile broadened.

“Why don’t you speak? Say something!” he was losing his patience.

But instead of answering him, the boy left the ground and began to run away from him. He disappeared quickly.

Next day, he had to attend an interview in a public company. As before, he was not fortunate enough to succeed. He began to think about the encounter which troubled him. He began to think about the boy. He entered the local market and bought a packet of sweets for his little brother and sister. He had some money left and he wanted to give that money to the little boy if the boy accepted it.

In the evening, he was back on the bench in the park. The little boy was present there too.

He asked the little boy many questions but instead of answering him, he kept on smiling. After a certain period, the little boy ran away.

This continued for fifteen days. Finally, he decided to buy some sweets for the boy, before going to the park.

He had been reading the works of a great Urdu poet. The book was still in his hand. He decided to read a few pages before going back home. His eyes stopped at one line:

“You go to your mosques and temples every day, but have you ever brought a smile on a little child’s face, have you ever filled the stomach of a hungry child?”

After a while, he lifted his eyes and found the boy sitting near the bench, on the ground.

“I have brought some sweets for you!” he extended the packet of sweets towards the little boy.

The little boy took the packet and said, “What will you give to your brother and sister if you give these sweets to me?”

He was surprised and he was thinking of an appropriate answer, but before he could think of one, the little boy took the packet and ran away.

“How did the boy know?” he muttered to himself.

When he entered his house, he was confused and disturbed. Something about the boy was troubling him.

Suddenly, he heard his brother say, “Brother, thanks for the sweets. A little boy said that you had sent the sweets!”

He was speechless but he concealed any emotion which could reveal his mind. He patted gently on his brother’s cheek and entered his room.

His mother entered the room and said, “Here is a letter for you!”

He was pleasantly surprised because the letter was sent by the company where he had very little chance of being accepted. It was an appointment letter stating that he would be provided a flat and a car after six months of service.

He understood everything and he closed his eyes, as if thanking the little angel for the miracle.

http://rajasirji.webs.com