Heartless

"Sir, I haven't eaten for the last two days, if you will give me something then I would be grateful to you. Your kids will get blessed." To my flow of thoughts, this voice seemed like an obstacle. I left a glance of ignorance over him. Torn clothes, Eyes went down in holes and too much smelling body. I stepped back so that he couldn't touch me, and I said, "No change." And without saying anything he glared at me for some time and left soon. His silence was unexpected for me. I have experienced that such beggars never leave you in traffic without taking money from you. The whole day I spent thinking about that beggar.

That evening while returning home I noticed the same beggar collecting leftover cigarette butts from the road. The next day I was in a hurry when the red light will turn green I was eagerly waiting for it, and suddenly a voice fell on my ears, "Sir, I haven't eaten since last three days, if you will give me something then I would be grateful to you. Your kids will get blessed." Today I didn't need to give any excuse, the signal turned green and that beggar was looking at my vehicle. And this soon became my daily routine. But I never offered him money, but he never stepped back while asking for money only from me in between so many people, and even I had decided that I'll never give him money.

Now it was Monsoon. That beggar didn't show up today. I was now habitual to him, so I felt something odd. I wish I had given him some money. Some bucks wouldn't have made difference to me. It’s alright, I'll wait for tomorrow, I'll surely give him something. I waited for the day to end as soon as possible. Like I borrowed money from a beggar, I was so much eager for it. In the evening too, I looked around for him, but he wasn't there. Now it was on tomorrow.

The next day also, he didn't show up. He must be ill. His weak physique might not bear this coldness of monsoon breeze and... No No, I cursed at myself for thinking that. At night I suddenly got up and kept a few clothes and some food in a plastic bag and went on his search. I asked about him a few beggars in that locality by describing them. But no one knew about him, I just got his name from the description, 'Kasimbhai'.

It was getting too late so I decided to leave for home and opened the door of my car before I could step in a voice fell on my ears, "You need drugs?" I was extremely shocked. I looked at the one who spoke this, Three boys merely aged 10-12 years were standing there. I shouted at them in anger, "No, Get lost from here."

That boy got surprised and he asked me, "Then why are you looking for Kasimbhai? You will not find him here. Yesterday police arrested him. At present we are handling his business. If you need drugs then we can sell them to you. He stood there waiting for my reply and I stood there, watching him!

He never wrote this story. There are many such stories that he had told me but he never wrote them. I loved this story so I mentioned it here in this book.