My Best Christmas Gift

I crawl out of my bed to look at the calendar. It is the 25th of December. Yes, Christmas it is. A day of presents, celebration and most importantly of plum cakes. If is dark before dawn and the Sun has still not shown its face to the world. I walk to the balcony. The bitter cold winds brush against my face and piercing my clothes they strike my body. Despite the harsh weather, I stood there. The air had a sense of unknown joy. Soon the Sun rose and the azure sky turned to amber hued and soon its constant pale blue.

 

I heard my doorbell ring. "Who is there so early?”. It was the delivery boy with a courier for me which contained a Christmas gift and a letter for me. The letter read, "Merry Christmas sister......" Reading further, my breathing stopped for a second and later my heart went into flames of joy. I became nostalgic and was reminded of the ever lingering experience. Walking down my memory lane I began to think.

   

It was the same day but two years ago and I was at my cousin's house. She lived in a hill station, a serene and picturesque place. It was 5 o'clock when I was sitting at the terrace, exploring the ever-thronging 'Wednesday Bazaar'. A man wearing patched clothes suddenly popped up in the frame. He acted weird, slapping or falling on the ground on his own. A woman smirked,"Here comes the moron." He reached for a sandwich kept on a plate on a stall while the owner looked the other way. The man took the sandwich however he was caught. The owner allowed him to take the food as it was of no use to him. Within no time, that being vanished and appeared from the other side of the road. Performing the same trick, he managed to get more food. I was thrilled watching all this. 

 

No sooner did he appear the third time than I made up my mind to follow him. I ran down the stairs with all conceivable speed.After following him for some time, I found myself to be in an uninhabited street. It was evening and the street lights were switched on. The yellow hue of the dusty bulbs showed a much unlikely view. The 'bazaar' streets were crowded with people whereas it was all hushed here. The man went inside a hut. From a small hole in the wall, I saw two children covered in rags of the same colour as that of the earth. The man gave the kids food and hugged them tightly. One of the kids spoke, "Father how will we survive, we do not have even enough food ?" The man replied," Do not worry, everything will be fine." Though the man had no hope himself, he gave some to the children. He added," Mother Nature will help us." I stood there bewildered, tears rolling down my cheeks. Without thinking, i entered the hut. I was carrying a purse which had my mobile phone and some money. I gave all my money, which was also my Christmas gift, to them. I just said to the children," Work hard and make your father proud. You are very lucky to have him. " Then I came out mumbling,"May the odds be ever in your favour." Then I rushed to my cousin's house as it was getting very late now.

 

This gift is from those two kids only.

 

They wrote in the letter how they had become successful entrepreneurs. Indeed, good times come after bad. Stars need darkness to shine. Sipping my morning coffee, I thought that this truly is a day of celebration and enjoyment for me. The unreasonable joy I felt minutes before had now got a reason.