Motherless Child

                       

               There was a fairly rich family in a town. They had their own modern house in the town. There were three children in the family. Master of the family was an educated man. He had enough money from his land. So, he kept his family in the town for his kid’s education. Since he was a rich man, everybody would respect him. He had the youngest son whose name was Arun. Though he was very clever, but he was less interested in study. But his father never bothered about him as he was his liked youngest son. Though he was not doing hard work, but he would stand within first three ranks in the class. He was very fond of playing games. He had range of all junior to senior friends. There was his friend whose name was Prakash. unfortunately, his mother was expired just after his birth. There was stigma on him as an unlucky child by birth.

            

  There was stigma on him that he had eaten his mother. But father was quite a wise man. There was no use of crying over spilt milk. So,he brought up him like his mother. Prakash’s father was a worker in cotton mill. He had no good health due to asthma. So, if he felt good, he would go on duty. So, he would get very less amount from his job. He had always scarcity of money. People from the colony wouldn’t respect him. Though his son was very strong enough bodily, but was poor in education. So, Prakash was less interested in his study. However, he would pass his final examination with grace marks. His father was happy with his performance as an apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Arun and Prakash had very strong boding with each other as they had common character. Both of them were less interested in study and fond of games. Being healthy and strong, he would protect Arun as his bodyguard. Their friendship was well known to colony residents. Arun ‘s father also knew about their friendship. His mother would love and favor Prakash as he had no mother. They would go to play for games together except their school timing. Arun would go to his house frequently. Prakash’s father had affinity towards him. Arun would take him to see film, circus or entertainment program in the town. They were fond of hoteling. Prakash’s father knew about all these activities. Whenever Prakash’s father needed some money. He would talk with Arun’s father for long time. When they would conclude their talk, he would barrow some money from him. Arun’s father was familiar with his habit. He would give him asked money as he had faith from past experience of getting back money. He would back his money in time.

           Unfortunately, there was a boy in good family. He had habit of stealing money from other houses. His mother was very active lady in the colony. So, she had good relations with so many families in the colony. His son could go to any house without in hurdle in the colony. There were some incidents of theft of money in the colony houses. Everybody had doubt about Prakash. Some colony people targeted his father as they had a doubt on his son. But he would refuse them. They said to him that they had observed his son in cinema hall, in hotel etc.

         

 How he had money for his enjoyment? But his father knew that he enjoyed it from Arun’s pocket. Colony people wouldn’t dare to ask any question to Arun or his father. But they had doubt on Prakash. One day when Prakash’s father went on duty. He went to the owner of the house as usual in the colony. Both had good family relation as they belonged to same community. Incidentally, the thief boy of colony went to his owner house just before him. He did his job and escaped from the house. His arrival in the home was less marked by the family members. Prakash also left their home after talking with family members. It was noticed that good amount of money was stolen from the house. The members of the family had a doubt on Prakash just like others. They made complaint about theft to his father. On that occasion, his father didn’t take it with pinch of salt. He checked his all pockets and other hidden places where he could keep stolen money. But his father couldn’t find any money with him. But he was very annoyed with him. Prakash was cold feet by the behavior of his father. Fortunately, Arun reached at his home. No sooner did he enter in his home than he found that his was in angry mode and crying constantly in some corner in his home. He found something wrong happened with his friend. Persuasion is better than force. His father as usual talked with him. He just inquired about him yesterday. He told his father when he came to his home in the afternoon. He was doing his homework. He asked him to wait for some time. So, he went to his owner house. As soon as he had completed his homework than he called him. Later we went to view the new film of our favorite film star. Since it was the first day of the film, there was huge crowd of viewers. So, he stood in queue for getting tickets. He showed him two half pieces of tickets. His father was satisfied with argument and evidences. Arun was an apple of his father’s eyes. He saw him eye to eye. He arrived at conclusion that his son couldn’t be bad apple. Before going for playing cricket in the evening. He asked Arun who paid the money. He was surprised with question. He said that he was his fastest friend. So, he would ask him to come with him. Every time he would pay the amount as he knew that he had no money. He was satisfied with answer. He asked his friend why he was so nervous. When he compelled him, he narrated the whole story?

            

 The colony’s families were alert from the incidents. There was a clever, alert and watchful lady in the colony. She had some doubt about the thief boy as man is wiser after event. Whenever the boy used to come in her home, he would play with some items in home in absences of her sons. She was watching his all activities minutely. No sooner had he got chance than he took the money from the almirah. He went back to his home. The moment he left her home, she checked the amount in the almirah. She found that he had stolen the money. She rushed to his home. She asked the boy to show his pockets. He wasn’t allowing her to do so. At last, his mother got angry with him. She herself checked his pockets. She found good amount of money in his pocket. She asked him about the money. But he was unanswerable. Whole dram was noticed by the colony families. People of colony begged the pardon of Prakash’s father. He said to them that he had never faith in his son. But he had never doubt of theft with him as he noticed that his son couldn’t do any wrong things as he had a faith in his friend, Arun. He had observed him from his childhood. he never could do or support such things. That was the reason why he was never destabilized by allegations of colony people.

       

  His father had a serious asthma in those days. Prakash left his school as soon as Arun went for his higher education in the city. He would work as cook in cotton mill where his father would work. He father left the job. He went to some pilgrim places for his rest of life as Sant. Arun completed his education. They couldn’t meet with each other for long time as Prakash left his rented house. He would stay inside company. After education, Arun got job in central government. He was transferred to other state. In this way both childhood friends were segregated forever. When Arun came back to his native place after retirement. He inquired about him. But there was no news about him. Arun that he might be in this world in safe place and enjoying his life, after all no news is good news. Arun was suspicious about his meeting in this life again. But absences make the heart grow fonder.