Last winter I was returning from my aunts house after having the delicious supper. Eco sphere was extremely chilled. The branded clothes from 'Rupa Thermacot' were protecting my flesh from extreme cold winds of winter. And for the precaution I was also wearing a Jacket. But still I was shivering. The path was totally covered with darkness except at few places where municipality has favored India by putting street lamp's. I was singing random Bollywood movie's song while walking alone with no one to listen as cold wind has pushed every one inside their shelter.
I was almost 300 m away from my home when I felt someone pulling my jacket. Thinking it to be the act of a friend of mine I told, "Sorry pal, I can't hang out now, it's too cold". Next moment the strength of the pull increased and the force thus generated was enough to drag me back along with my Jacket.
"Whoa man" I replied all frustrated and turned back with my eyes wide opened to see the person in front of me. The person pulling my jacket was a stranger with unshaven beards and a thin dirty shirt on his lean body. It looked as if he hasn't bathed for months. I got scared and tried to run away from him.
"Give me, Give me" he grunted, in a coarse shivering tone. And started pulling my jacket more firmly.
"Leave me, what are you doing" I pleaded.
But he came more closer and his attempt became more intense. This made my hairs stand at their tip. Then all of a sudden I thought "Why the hell am I afraid? I am just few meters away from my home and 'Apne ghar me to kutta bhi sher hota hai (Even a dog pretends to be a lion in its area)'.'" This encouraged me to take on him.
"Bastard" I roared holding his collar. "What do you think? You can get away from here. It's my area, my... do you understand"
But he ignored my word's and kept on pulling my jacket while constantly uttering "Give me, give me" with his shivering lips.
Though I was acting to be strong and brave but from within I was afraid of him. Suddenly a thought came to me that this devil might be having knife or gun. If so, then what?
I jerked his hand strongly of my jacket. Pushed him forcefully which made him fall on the ground. I got a chance to escape. But before I could run he caught hold of my leg. I kicked on his chest with my leg and slapped him on his head twice. Thus I managed to get away from his clutch and ran away from there. He also ran behind me uttering the only word in his dictionary "give me,give me".
I somehow came near front of my gate where I felt a sense of security. I opened the door, entered inside and locked the door breathing heavily. I was trying to diagnose his word 'Give me'. What was he trying to take from me. Then I saw my pet dog shivering in cold outside its shade. I felt sorry for him. I brought a blanket, covered him and took him inside my room. This deed made my soul happy.
All of a sudden, I got a feeling as if that stranger was trying to snatch my jacket. He was in a thin dirty shirt and might have been feeling cold. "Quite possible" I murmured. He needed my jacket, most probably, I concluded. Moreover he was not having knife or gun otherwise he might have used them to get what he wanted.
I went inside my room and told the whole story to my brother. And then I said "Should we got out and give him our old woolen cloth. He need it, I think"
"Shut up and sleep, don't attempt to be Mother Teresa. Those are road side thief who loots and plunder pedestrians during night." my brother said like a scholar.
"No I want to help him" I exclaimed.
"Should I call father" he shouted at me.And it was enough for me to drop my mission at least for that day.
"Today I am sleeping but tomorrow I will go and distribute the clothes to such people" I muttered in disgust
"Ok, wait for tomorrow to come" he replied with cunning smile on his face.
We both slept. Next morning while going to our school we happened to noticed huge mob gathered near the 'chauraha'. Out of curiosity we wanted to inspect what was the reason behind such a huge gathering. We reached at the spot. Someone has died over there. One Person said "He died of cold". My brother said "koi bewada pi ke mar gaya thand me (a drunkard has died consuming alcohol in cold)"
Tear came to my eyes immediately as I saw the dead body.
My brother looked at me, laughed and mockingly uttered "Ye bewada tera in-law lagta tha kya(Is he your in laws). Why are you crying".
"HE is the same stranger whom I met yesterday"
I looked at my brother but he dared not to make an eye contact. After sometime we walked from there silently. Having walked few yards from there, I heard my brother say, "You were correct. Had I allowed you to help him yesterday, a life might have been saved today."
He learnt his lesson and on the same day I too learned something and it was "Help today, if you can, because sometimes tomorrow never comes."
-------a short story by,
Rajneesh Shukla.
