Who Is Ours?

"At last we are out of daily fuss." I was telling to my wife Radha. "It would be fun in this new house, we two and our Raju. No one else to disrupt us. You don't know Radha, after trying a lot I got a transfer. We will send them Rs. 1000/- every month." Hearing this Radha said with grief, "Send them Rs. 1500/- but please don't take their name. And then they started cleaning the house. By evening, they were able to complete the cleaning of their house. Radha wasn't able to cook because of tiredness and we were already running late for dinner, so I said, "Let's go out for dinner." Radha got ready very soon. She dressed up Raju too and we went to the nearest restaurant for dinner. Radha wasn't interested in going to a good restaurant as she thought that her look isn't good because of the whole day's work. And even clothes were packed in the suitcase. I ordered food as soon as I reached a restaurant.

This is what we call life. No interruption in life, and doing whatever we want to do. Radha was happy. Dinner was served. I was enjoying the meal. I noticed that Radha isn't much interested in dinner. So I asked her, "Is there anything wrong with the food?"

Without saying anything, Radha indicated aside. I looked in that direction, a boy was standing there. Torn clothes, worse condition and with hunger dripping from his face, he was looking at us. "This is the problem with such places. That's why I told you that we must go to some good restaurant, but you never listen to me."

"Leave it," Radha said, and started eating her meal. But that boy was still looking at us. So I signaled him to come to us. Radha asked him, "Are you hungry?"

That boy nodded. Radha offered him two chapattis. With curiosity, that boy looked at me. I said to him, "Keep it." That boy took the chapattis and he tried to keep it in his torn pocket. Seeing this, I said, "Aren't you hungry? Finish it off here." In reply, that boy said, "I'm hungry. But my mother is at home, and she is hungry too. She is sick, and we will eat together. There is no one to look after her."

Listening to this sentence, my hands stopped, and the words of the morning started ringing in my ears. "Son, please don't leave us. It seems better if you're with us. House feels complete with your wife and Raju. What I'll do here being alone? Who is ours except you?"