That winter night!!

It was dark and stormy night. Winter had taken its worst form. The chilling air seemed like it will rip the skin apart. I was sitting at the corner table, waiting for a friend. It was our routine to have tea every Friday night at this small restaurant called dhaba. I saw this boy busy in his work, one table to other, without looking up. His left hand was shivering of cold. He was trying to hold his collar buttons together with that shaking hand. His bare foot has become pale by continuously running on that freezing floor. His eyes so still as if the water in it had frozen. I thought what past he was carrying with him and what his destination will be?

A lady wearing a blue bordered sari in the small color TV said, ‘this is the coldest day recorded in the last 8 years in the city and the chances are that temperature will dip further’.

I looked at him. He was unaware of this because a person knowingly will not dare to survive wearing just a half sleeves shirt.  He was doing it.

My friend came and I was not able to hide what bothered me at the moment. ‘Don’t worry! They have a habit’ he said and signaled for two teas with his gloves covered hand. He came with two cups of tea hardly able to hold them steady. First time I noticed him so closely, a fresh wound on left side of forehead, burning scars on both the hands, lips so dry it seems he had not eaten for whole day.  He was struggling with the tea cup in his left hand. I stood up to hold the cup so that it doesn’t fall, but I was late, instead the whole cup of tea scattered around the chair also some on my trouser too. Pieces of the cup were all over the floor. May be by standing up I scared him.

Before I can tell him that it was not his fault, the manager came shouting and slapped without even knowing what has happened. I cannot even imagine the pain it might have caused to the poor soul. He was thrown out of the door. He said nothing, just kept shivering. The ice in his eyes was now melted. He walked slowly, away in the dark.

Whole night I was not able to sleep. It was not his fault, it was mine. I wanted to help him. I wanted to save his childhood. I wanted to sleep, I had all the comforts bed, blanket, and room heater but every time I closed my eyes his face and his shaking hand would not let me.

7:30 in the morning, I wore my overcoat and started walking towards the dhaba. I took few woolen cloths and a blanket with me for him. I wanted to repent.

There were few people gathered near the wall. A boy laying down holding his collar buttons together. He was so close to the wall as if he wanted to get inside. His knees almost touching chin. His body has become pale like his foot. Now his hands were not shaking. Wound on the forehead was now dry. Like yesterday, his eyes were frozen.

I was able to hear the voice coming from the TV, same lady was saying, ‘coldest day ever recorded in the city, many died of dipped temperature. It was dark and stormy night’