The Unshattered Will

"Robert… ..Robert….Robert”, the Ill clad man shouted, shouted till his voice became inaudible. He ran after the fast-moving bike but couldn’t match its speed even knowing that it was impossible. The ill-groomed man started panting after being defeated in the long chase. He looked around and after confirming no one saw him, took a deep sigh of relief. The man walked lethargically and sat on one side of Johans Street. 

The ill-groomed man rubbed both his hands In his face, arranged his hair, and with a smile had an internal conversation, “ The bike was at high speed, but Robert knows my voice better than any other man in the world. Today he lost his chance to know me better”.

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In everybody’s life, a situation comes when we question the existence of a parallel world that we act not to recognize whereas we are a part of it. Zeeshan an extremely career-conscious guy, belonged to a poverty-stricken family where it becomes a tough competition to survive. Going with Darwin’s theory ‘Survival of the Fittest’, Zeeshan had to starve for days and nights and finally survived in the combat of life and hunger.

“Hello, hello, are you alive, hello. I have brought some food items and two bottles of water. Have these, and you’ll feel better”.

Zeeshan looked up and stared at the unknown face, wondering why he helped him.

“Sir, I’m Zeeshan and not a beggar. I can starve myself to death, but can’t beg. I’m a qualified unemployed. I can recognize the costume you’re wearing. Isn’t it Santa? I’ve heard of Santa distributing gifts on Christmas Eve, but I want to see the man hidden inside this costume”.

The boldness and fluency in English caught his attention. Santa never expected such perfection in a roadside beggar which he mistook as so. He regretted taking the man on the footpath otherwise. After a bit, the costume of Santa unfolded, and out came a handsome young man almost of Zeeshan’s age.

“I’m Robert and I’m the chief director of NGO ‘I WHY’. Your words touched me rather than hurting me Zeeshan. I’m ashamed of myself. I shouldn’t take every ill-clad man on the streets as a beggar. By the way, ‘I WHY’ literally means ‘I Will Help You and  Mr. Zeeshan if you give me the pleasure to help you, I’ll be glad”, with these words Robert put his left hand forward and spoke softly, “Friends?”

Zeeshan never expected such modesty and courtesy from an unknown man and wondered if he was Santa. He cleaned his hands rubbed on his torn shit and put one hand forward.

“Sir, how can we be friends? Our status doesn’t match. People say that I’m smart, I’m intelligent but their words can’t fill the empty stomachs of my family members. Sir, if you think I am worthy enough, please show me a way to earn honestly”.

Before Zeeshan could finish his words, Robert gave him a tight hug and entered the half-finished conversation.

“I’ve known several people and studied human minds. My father died when I was just a kid. I grew up with business tycoons as my father was one among them. I know and can judge people more than I do. The way I’ve seen you and judged you, you even can’t judge. When I say, I mean it; from today you will be working with me, my dear friend”.

Robert, Zeeshan, and three others finally left the place.

Life took a u-turn for Zeeshan. He was given the responsibility of ‘I WHY ‘and he did his best to help the poor and the needy. In the coming days, Zeeshan and Robert became best friends. Zeeshan always wondered about the compassion Robert showed. For him, Robert is a Santa Claus although he always sees the man in Robert working for the poor and the needy. A time came when Robert give the entire charge of ‘I WHY' to Zeeshan.

“My dear friend, I’ve observed, spied, and judged you from every angle in the last 10 years. We promised to work every day to keep the principles of ‘I WHY' safe. But you disappear every 25th December. Your sincerity stopped me from asking about it. Your genuineness and your passion are incomparable. I believe that you go to church on the 25th of December. Am I correct my dear Zeeshan”.

“Today is 24th December, come tomorrow night to the same place where you first meet me…..Johans Street. You’ll get your answer”, with these words, Zeeshan left for his home.

That night, Robert had a bed sleep. He controlled his excitement and prepared his mind to go to Johans Street the next evening. When he fell asleep he couldn’t count.

The sound of the morning alarm woke Robert up. He planned not to go to the office and pass the whole day in Church. When you are given the time to know a result of a decision it becomes tough to wait for it and every second seems to count slowly.

Robert went to the church thinking he might meet his friend in the church though it has lesser possibility. He passed half of the day and finally went to the office. Checking the watch again and again and as he have a pretty strong conception of friendship, he preferred to wait for the evening.

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“Robert… ..Robert….Robert”, the Ill clad man shouted, shouted till his voice became inaudible. He ran after the fast-moving bike but couldn’t match its speed even knowing that it was impossible.

“The bike was at high speed, but Robert knows my voice better than any other man in the world. He lost his chance to know me better”. As the ill-clad man was about to leave Johans Street, he heard the sound of boots behind him. He turned around and stared at the person who was standing.

“My dear friend, I thank God a billion times that he gave you in my life. You are not a beggar; a genius in your style. How could you think that your friend will not recognize your voice? Zeeshan…..you are a genius”, Robert hugged his best friend and tears rolled down his cheeks.

“I’m not a genius Robert but with you, I learned to give value to hard work, the value of talents. Every 25th December, I come here in disguise and wait for the evening and then the entire night, waiting for a Santa like you but my dear friend Robert, you are irreplaceable”.

The entire Johans Street was filled with the sounds of laughter and in the long run, both of them made strenuous efforts to bring out the best in ‘I WHY' for the manifestation of a land where no one is poor.