The Rich Little Boy

The Rich Little Boy

Akilan woke up from sleep hearing the ringing of temple bells. He got up and went to wash his face in the roadside pump. Akilan was five years old and was an orphan. He knew nothing about joy and happiness. All he knew was hunger, humiliation, and tears. As he was washing his face, the priest of the temple came to pump water. He shouted at Akilan to move and pumped the water and then went inside the temple. Akilan was staring at the temple for sometime. Then as usual he went and sat outside the temple for begging. He had no strength. He was starving for the third day. He was tired and had no strength. Many people walked into temple but none cared to look at him. He was vexed. It was a hot day. Akilan slowly got up and went to the roadside pump to fill his stomach with water. As he went near the pump he saw a rich lady and his small son walking towards the temple. The rich little boy was holding a big toy gun in his hands and he was making the sound of the gun with his mouth as he was walking. The rich little boy saw Akilan and stopped for a minute. Akilan was seeing the toy gun. He had never seen such a big toy gun before! His eyes opened wide on seeing the gun. Even during the THIRUVIZHA at temples he used to see only small one. He forgot his hunger and was looking at the toy gun with eagerness. The rich little boy was surprised to see Akilan in such a bad condition with torn clothes, dry hair. He was moved by this and understood that Akilan was seeing the toy gun. He smiled at Akilan and handed over the gun to Akilan. Akilan smiled at rich little boy but he was hesitating to get the gun. Have It! said the little rich boy in childish manner. When Akilan went near the rich little boy to get the gun, little rich boy's mother pushed Akilan aside with full force. She looked at Akilan as if she was looking at some creature. Akilan was bleeding badly. Tears filled Akilan's eyes but he had no strength to cry. He fainted. The rich little boy who saw him faint went to his car and brought him water. But his mother scolded him and dragged him inside the temple. The priest welcomed the lady with a broad smile. He asked her, on whose name the Abishagam has to be done? The lady told that it was his son's birthday today and asked to do Abishagam on his name itself. She handed him a can of milk, honey and Panneer for Abishagam. The little rich boy was seeing what the priest was doing. He poured the milk on the statue of God and was chanting some mantras; he then poured the honey and paneer. The lady took the little boy and went round the temple. When they were about to finish the first round the little boy saw the milk coming out through a hole at the corner, the milk which was given to Abishagam. After prayers, the rich little boy along with him mother came out of the temple towards the car. The rich little boy searched for Akilan. He saw Akilan on the roadside pump drinking water. The rich little boy was annoyed of the wasted milk inside the temple and here a little boy even without a cup of pure water to drink. He asked his mother to get some milk for Akilan. But the lady dragged him to the car. He questioned his mother. When you can give so much milk to the priest why not a cup of milk to the poor boy who is in hunger? The lady told that it was for God and only then God will keep them happy. The rich little boy was not convinced with this explanation. He asked his mother to give cup of milk to the poor boy. The lady got angry and slapped her son. But the rich little boy was stubborn. He told he would not come home unless she gives cup of milk to the poor boy. The lady tried to convince him but in vain. She at last gave a cup of milk to poor boy. As Akilan drank the milk the little rich boy could see the smile, the real happiness in the face of Akilan. He smiled at his mother. His mother smiled too. She remembered the lines, “You can see God only in the smiles of poor”.