Golden Heart

  Life is so beautiful and mystical with moments that are sometimes filled with happiness and sometimes filled with angst and unhappiness. Whatever they are we have to move on in life. These moments make us realize the importance of the teachings that life gives to everyone of us. Take it in your stride and move on that is what is life.                          

 This short story is based on so heart touching that I read about recently. I am sure that is what the readers will feel on reading this post.        

 ' Bademiya ' Resturant the name plate itself is so iconic and significant. The Restuarant has been in operation since a long long time. It's cuisine and dishes have been appealing to young and old alike for centuries together. The three generations of people who have been associated with this Restaurant are well known for their courteous and helpful nature. They have always been so since a long time. Here is a heart touching episode that will surely make you all feel touched.                        

 Early on a Sunday morning the Restuarant is busy with customers who have come to have tea that is brewing early in the morning. The song of Kishore Kumar is playing on the Radio which is so soulful. The day continues with more people coming to the Restaurant to have the hot ginger tea and paranthas served with onion chutney and salad.At around 10.30 a young man who was looking frail and tired enters the Restuarant. He is dressed in very simple clothes. The manager of the Restuarant kadar Bhai notices that, the young man very quietly sits at a table in the corner of the Restuarant. He orders a cup of tea and looks so tensed. Kadar bhai gets busy at the counter. After the young man finishes his tea it is time to pay the bill obviously. The young man  gets up from the table and very hesitantly comes to the counter and mumbles something which is not clear to Shera the waiter nor kadarbhai. Shera reminds about the bill and then the young man says that he does not have money to pay the bill as he has not earned anything for the past two days. He even says he has not eaten anything for two days. Kadarbhai felt bad on hearing this and tells the young man to forget about the bill. He even offers him (samosa) which the young man immediately eats and thanks kadar bhai. Before leaving the Restuarant he promises kadarbhai that he will repay the bill amount in a couple of days and he goes away. Shera feels he should not have been let out just like that. But, Kadar bhai says "it is okay to help someone in need". Kadarbhai and Shera forget about this and get busy with their respective work.       

After about Six months or so the young man comes back to the Restaurant early in the morning. He orders two cups of tea and few snacks. Kadar bhai recognises him to be the same young man who had no money to pay the bill for tea and snacks. The young man was dressed in a good set of clothes,well groomed and smiling happily. Kadar bhai and Shera were quite surprised at this transition. They were pleased to see this as well. The young man offered tea to Kadarbhai and Shera. He paid the bill and even a tip to Shera. He informed kadarbhai that he had got a well earning job and he was comfortable in life. He thanked kadarbhai for allowing him to go out of the Restuarant even though he did not pay the bill about six months back. Kadarbhai explained that it was alright, and the young man walked out pleased.                 

The young man frequently visited the Restuarant and paid the bill and tip sincerely. This became a sort of a routine affair. Shera too was happy with the heavy tip he was getting for the little service he did.     

After a few months or a year the young man stopped coming to the Restaurant. Kadar bhai thought that the young man might have got busy with his job and he was happy for him. Shera too remembered him some times.                         

With time everyone got busy with their own work and business. One day when Shera was at the vegetable market he saw a hoarding that was about a movie that was a big hit. Shera had heard the dialogues, songs and music of the movie were supposed to be very good. The Hero was a new comer who had acted very well. The best part of the movie was the comedy and the comedian had done a great job. Looking at the poster Shera was shocked. It was none other than the young man who visited their Restaurant frequently. He was the great comedian Mehmood who was known for his special kind of dialogue delivery and mannerisms Shera very quickly came running to the Restaurant and shared the news with Kadarbhai who was thrilled beyond words. Mehmood would frequently visit the Restuarant even after becoming very popular. His bonding with kadar bhai continued even after he became very rich and a popular actor. This is what is the sign of golden hearts that are made of relationships that are cemented not with wealth in the pocket but with affection and love in the heart that is made of gold.