The Biryani

By Arvind Pavithran R

One fine day, Ms. Annona was getting herself a pack of Biryani from a reputed shop. While billing she sees a small boy (Bhaskar) through the glass door who is constantly gazing at the Biryani shop. Few feet away from him is his mother, who regularly begs on the road. From the constant stare of the boy, Annona understands that he is too desperate about the Biryani. Collecting the package from the counter she leaves the shop and walks straight to the Bhaskar’s mother. Bhaskar sees this strange woman talking to his mother with the Biryani packet. After a while Annona left the scene.

The next day, Bhaskar was admitted to a school in the surrounding. But, every day as he passes by the Biryani shop he still gives that hungry and desperate look, wanting to have one. Often he finds this strange woman talking to his mother on the road. This continued for several years.

Now Bhaskar has turned into a man. He has found himself a job to take care of his family. Now he has the money that he needs to buy himself a Biryani. He rushes to the shop and as soon as he enters the fragrance of the Biryani enters his hungry heart through his nostrils. He quickly asks the person the pack one for him and his mother, he pays the bills and moves out of the counter and out of the shop with a filled heart and a joyful face.

On the road he finds the strange woman (Ms. Annona), looking at him through her car window. He gave a smile to her and lifted the Biryani packet to show her that his years of thirst is now quenched. Ms. Annona winked her eyes and points her finger to the side of the road. Our confused man, looks to the direction she is pointing and finds a small boy gazing at the Biryani shop. His heart melted, he turned back to see the strange woman, but the car has already left.

With a confidence that he is going to make a difference in the boy’s life, Bhaskar started to walk towards the boy, meanwhile Ms. Annona leans on the car’s window thinking of her childhood when she was gazing at the Biryani shop and the Miraculous man who changed her life.

By Arvind Pavithran R