Devika stood near the window pane,
her eyes scanning each and every word of her text book. She wanted to be fully
prepared for her exam, due the next day. Her mother called her out, telling her
to eat the hot halwa she had made for her, but she ignored her.
“Coming in a while, Ma.” she
replied.
“Study later beta, the halwa will
get cold.” She didn’t pay any attention to her mother’s words.
Suddenly, she noticed a boy,
outside the window, sitting on the road. He looked seven to nine years old,
starved to death, his eyes full of hunger. Devika noticed his tattered clothes,
torn t-shirt which was much bigger than his actual size.
Devika couldn’t see this boy’s
irony anymore. She left her book on the table near the window, and went inside
the kitchen.
“What are you doing?” her mother
asked her as she took out a bowl and started putting the halwa in it.
“Someone needs it more than
me.” was her reply.
She went towards him,
hesitatingly. He looked at her with his big eyes and then looked at the bowl of
halwa she was carrying. He smelled the aroma and his mouth watered.
“Here, this is for you.” She gave
him the bowl and a spoon
The boy got a hold of the bowl
and looked inside it. His eyes were shining with happiness. His smile made his face
glow. He ate the halwa like he had never eaten before. Devika smiled happily as
she saw him eating with satisfaction.
“Do you like it?” she asked him.
“Of course! It was delicious. Now
I will be able to beg for a longer time.” His words stabbed Devika’s heart.
He finished the halwa in no time
and gave the bowl and spoon back to her.
“Thank you.” he said with a big
smile and left.
