Dinner Date

I stood at the corner of a long, cobbled street as I waited for my cousins to arrive for a birthday celebration we had planned. Like always I darted around the place aimlessly since there was close to an hour before they all arrived. Nonetheless, I do not get bored in such circumstances. Courtesy, my curious mind that often looks for subtle information in my surroundings.

At about half a km, I saw an old woman begging for alms from the passers-by. Some stopped by to render some change. She smiled and took them humbly. I saw that she kept counting the change as if eagerly waiting for it to hit a certain figure. I guessed she might need the money to eat her meal, perhaps.

I walked up to her and requested her to tell me what she would like for the dinner. Immediately, she thankfully smiled and told me, “Just five rupees more.” I would have given her a ten-rupee note but then I paused and asked her to come with me just so we could buy the dinner together.

When we arrived at a small takeaway shop at the corner of the street, she had her order ready. I ordered two of the same meal. It was wonderful to be sitting with a stranger and share a meal. People bond over food, they say. Exactly what we were experiencing. Throughout the meal, she raised her head a couple of times to see me and smile. I smiled back. We did not talk at all. However, we were in it together – this was certain. I thoroughly enjoyed eating with her. I hope she did too.

Just when we were about to leave, I saw her go to the counter and put all her collected coins and notes into the little box that aimed to support a noble cause of fighting hunger for the impoverished children. For a few minutes, words failed me. I kept looking at her. She came up to me and embraced me warmly and said “Dhanyavad” (thank you). I thanked her profusely for her kind gesture. 

Both of us had tears as she told me touching words.

“God sent you to give me food tonight. I did not ask him. He made it easy for me. I can’t thank him directly. So, I gave my earned coins to help someone in need.”

To this day, she is one of the persons I always fondly remember.