Last Drop

He removed the water bottle from his bag pack and saw it. Only few drops of water were left. He opened the cap and raised the bottle upside down; letting those few drops fall in his mouth. Few drops, though, struck down along his tongue, but other fell on his chin. The drops which fell on the tongue were not enough to satisfy his thirst. He brought the bottle to its original place and wiped his chin dry. He removed his wallet from his back pocket and flipped it open; it hardly contained twenty bucks. He knew he could afford a new bottle of water to satisfy his thirst but he also knew that those are the last twenty bucks he has left with and do not know for how many days. Therefore, he did not want to waste it until an emergency.

It was more than four hours; he was sitting in that hot temperature. It was three in the afternoon and in Mumbai during summer days, three in the afternoon feels as if the heat is raining down like the breath of hell. He had brought that bottle some couple of hours earlier and due to the temperature, he kept having sip by sip, until now. There was an ample amount of water in front of him, but it was salty. He had been several times to this place, but every time, he felt as if it was his maiden sojourn. Moreover, he believed the only place he can visit without hesitation was the sea, which was in front of him, he referred it as a ‘Friend.’ A friend who never judges him. A friend who listens to him. A friend who is available night and day. A friend he knew who will be always with him, no matter whatever happens. He felt safe there. He always loved to come here, people called it ‘Queens Necklace’ or ‘Marine Drive,’ but he called it ‘Home.’

His dry throat made him realize that he was thirsty but he was sure that he didn't go to buy a new bottle of mineral water. Therefore, he got up from his place and started a search. A search for water. Mumbai is always busy, and here people’s feelings depend upon their mood. He started his search. He was optimistic that in the city of dreams, if people can find their dreams, then it was certain for him to find a glass of water. He wandered through streets in search of water. He took the turns, which he had not even known, walked the alleys he never knew existed. He kept searching for a glass of water.

After an hour or so, his search came to a halt, when he saw a junk-food stall with a water tank. His lips widened into a smile after seeing the water tank. He was gratified beyond words. Because for him what matters was a glass of water, and discovering it right in front of him was like seeing god alive. He walked towards the stall with shaking legs; they were barely able to support his weight. His throat was dry like a barren land. He even did not remember when his lips dried out, and tongue ran out of saliva. He was hardly able to breathe as dry throat was making it difficult to pass the oxygen through, into the lungs. However, all his dilemmas were going to end soon. Because he had found what he was searching for, water.

He went near the food stall and grabbed the steel glass, which was at the top of the steel water tank. He took the glass and placed it under the tap on the tank.

As soon as he turned the cock of tap to open, he heard, “Hey! What are you doing?” He looked up. It was a dark color man in a shirt and a lungi. The man was the owner of the stall. He barked again, "What are you doing?”

He tried hard to respond, but his dry throat rebelled for silence. Therefore, he closed his fist and placed his right thumb high and motioned it towards the mouth. Letting the owner know, he was thirsty and drinking the water.

The man recognized his action, and mouthed, “No, you can’t drink water from here. This water is for my customers only. And if you want to drink it, then buy something first.”

He was stupefied after listening to the man. He never imagined that anyone could say no to the water. So, this time he pushed his limit and spoke against his throats will, “But I am thirsty.” His voice was low and husky.

“So, what?” Slammed the man. And kept on, “Do you have the slightest idea that from how far I bring this water? It is solely for my customers. If you want to have it then you have to buy something.”

“But I have no money,” he replied, still in a gruff tone.

“Then get lost from here. Don’t waste my time,” the man scolded and pushed him.

He was nearly going to fall down but controlled himself and walked away from the stall, still being thirsty. He went and rested himself at the closest bus stop. His eyes filled with water but throat still being dry. He cried. Not because that man insulted him but because of his fate. His tears rolled down to his cheeks. He wished to drink those tears to satisfy his thirst, but that too seemed impossible. In his brain, he finalized to buy a new bottle of water. He knew if he did so, he would be with no money, and neither knew for how many days. He thought, future is yet to come, what matters now is present, his thirst.

While he was busy finalizing his decision, a girl not more than six in her school uniform came and sat next to him. She had a bag on her back and a plastic water bottle hung around her neck. She uncapped her water bottle and started drinking water from it. His eyes fell on that girl. He gulped his dry throat and stared the girl as a hungry hound. While staring the girl, he did not have any wrong intentions on his mind. His only focus was the bottle from which the girl was having water. She, after calming her thirst, placed down her bottle and drying her chin looked at him. She stared directly into his eyes, but did not speak anything. They stared each other for a while without any word. It seemed as if he was saying something to her that too without uttering any word, and she hearing his silent voice. And so, she removed her water bottle from her neck and forwarded it towards him.