The Spoilt Sandwiches

By Ayn Mawaddat (Zainab Shahzad)

Ayaan's lunch box, for the first time in this academic year, was completely empty when he put in the sink to be washed. His mother was surprised and doubtful too.

'Son, did you really finish your meal today?' His mother asked. Wondering what could be the reason for the lunch box to be so clean, she made several guesses while asking too many questions.

'Did you like the lunch or did you discard it? You never share it with your friends out of embarrassment then what did you do?

"Maa I didn't throw it. Ever since you've asked me to never disrespect food by throwing it in the bin I've, with honesty, adhered to your instructions."

She felt delighted assuming her son had enjoyed the taste of her hand packed meal. Her ideal routine comprised of leaving for work at 5.00 am due to which she would always prep and pack the meal a night before. Ayaan would daily grumble he didn't find the food fresh and he would pretend to eat it with friends to not feel awkward in the group.

"But I didn't really do anything different Ayaan? So what really happened? Did you find the sandwiches yum that made you eat all of it."

"Maa, your food is the yummiest. I promise I'll never complain again over the food being fresh or not." Ayaan said with a heaviness in his tone and tears rolling down his eyes.

"Son?" His mother worriedly asked, hugging and caressing him, "Why are you crying? What's really happened? Please talk to me."

Ayaan cried even louder. He dug his face in her chest and hugged his mother even tighter.

"You're scaring me Ayaan. Why are you crying baby. What's the matter? Did someone tell you something at school? Please tell me what is it?" Ayaan's mother said in a panicked tone.

"No maa, everything's fine." Ayaan said trying to calm himself to not to worry his mother. He sat up straight and narrated to his mother about the events leading to the emptiness of his lunch box today.

He was, because of the extracurricular activities involving the annual day function in his school, not able to eat his lunch during the school break hours. He was worried the tiffin box was going to stay packed until noon and the food was bound to get spoilt.

When outside the school premises, waiting for his van to arrive, he opened his lunch box to realise, the odour from the tiffin box was indeed unbearable. The smashed tomatoes, onions and the cucumber in the sandwiches were no longer stale, they were completely spoilt.

Out of fear that he would be scolded again, he decided to empty the lunch box into the stream located close by. He headed towards the alley quickly to ensure he came back before the van arrived. While running the tiffin box fell off his hand and the food scattered on the road.

A small boy, half naked and totally dirty watching him from a distance came running too and immediately picked up the scattered pieces and ate all of them. He looked so famished that he didn't even bother to look at Ayaan while devouring the scattered content. Once it was all over he picked up the lunch box, put the lid on and gave it to Ayaan with a big smile of gratitude on his face while Ayaan watched in tears and disbelief.

"It is the first time in my life that I've understood the worth of each and every bite of the meal I eat. He never complained of the food being sour or spoilt. He was so starved he just ate off the road, those bits also that were mixed with dust." Ayaan said sobbing. "He was so small, and yet so full of gratitude over something that I always complain of.” He held his mother’s hands and said, “I promise, I’ll never complain about the taste of the food ever again. Maa can you give me two lunch boxes from tomorrow?, I'll carry one for the starving boy everyday."

His mother nodded affirmatively, silently wiping her eyes off after listening to him intently. She felt proud of the fact that her son discovered a lesson to learn in every situation though she was sorry that her seven year old discovered the harsh reality of life this way.

The incident was bound to impact him emotionally for life, the heart touching tale of hunger compelling him to tears over restless nights to come, every time he will recall the events.

By Ayn Mawaddat (Zainab Shahzad)