An Early Day Off

"What's life, dad?" asked the child. The Father smiled at his child and then looked far into the oblivion, taking a small puff from his lighted Bolivar. The cool breeze blowing across the Kolkata Maidan made the father wonder what would he answer to the innocent question asked by his 5 year old child.

'Perhaps a successful life, all the happiness that money can buy and jet setting life that one aspires to have' is what he thought to himself.

He had taken an early day off to have some time off with his child. Thus as soon as the lights came on after the CEO finished his speech, the father packed his mac book into his bag and rushed towards his newly bought Armada. He yearned to spend some time off after a month of globe trotting. Indeed, a successful 'life' to the envy of his peers.

The winds grew stronger and the sky over the horizon was as black as it could be. Nor' westerlies in this part of the city at this time of the year was very common. Everyone scampered to a nearby tree shelter as the rains started pouring in. He held his son tightly by the small wrist and picked him on his shoulder and started running towards his quadra cylinder, 4×4 drive, jet black Armada. Within seconds they were safely seated in the premium genuine leather seats. 'And a cover over the head to protect oneself' he chuckled to himself to the innocent question.

The rain drops fell with all its might making it difficult to see even a foot further. The rattle of the rain drops, the roaring of the thunder sky did not quite permeate into the car. He knew he was safe with his father.

As soon he was about to turn towards his child, he could not believe his eyes. The son had picked up a small, defenceless puppy from the ground with him as he had picked him up on his shoulder.

Not sure how should he deal with the situation, he frowned when the small and wet puppy was making the leather seats go dirty and wet. Before he could say something, the son retorted "But Dad, he was so helpless. No one to look after him. Even his mom wasn't around. And its raining this bad.".

Time flew back many years back when a successful couple were still childless. The best of the medical facilities could not give them the bundle of joy that the heart yearned for. 'Twas some 40 yrs back. The same Kolkata Nor' Westerlies. The same Kolkata Maidan. A 5 year old small baby was abandoned in the fields. The Mehras were the very few who owned a limited edition imported Beetle in the erstwhile Calcutta. Mrs Mehra -Sr had ran the run of her life to pick the 5 year old baby in her arms and gave him shelter.

Cut Today: Ravi Mehra was the next-in line CFO of a big logistic based organisation in Kolkata. But his 5 year old son Anuj Mehra had opened his eyes. He now knew what is life!. 'Life is not only about counting the many laurels that one can accomplish in his lifetime. But about making a difference to atleast a single life in the same lifetime while one can. This will be more valuable than any worldly laurels that can be imagined.' The words of the dying Mr Mehra -Sr echoed in his ears.

The Heavens, the Earth and the Future thus smiled.