Fiction Series: A Beggar’s Soul

It had been now four days since he had moved much from his place. He was too weak to move now. The last piece of bread was now rotten and spoil. Under the make shift cloth shelter supported by two small sticks he was now in complete rest. He saw footsteps moving around him but never was he bothered.

He was used to go to nearby street and beg! He never used to beg for money but only food! Even the cloth that covered his body was a “dhothi”! He knew, money was of no use. He had never been ill too. That evening he was nearing his shelter when he slipped. A few known faces had helped him reach his shelter! He had lost his apetite now!

Faintly he could see a piece of one rupee coin. He smiled and had a look at the coin. How could he eat the one rupee coin. Even without food he did not feel hungry now. He saw a young face looking at him. He called the small boy and handed over the coin. The boy took the coin and ran way with a smile.

He felt as if he was floating now. He felt very light and free. He was happy now. He could not understand as to how there was no pain. He saw a strong light in front of him.

“Dear Child!”

the old beggar could see a strong light now turning in a form! “God! Is it you?”

“yes, my dear child!”

“God! So I am dead now!” he turned to see his smiling face and the dilapidated body in the tiny shelter! “I did not feel like dying and I am dead!”

“Child, I did not want you to have pain! I silently took you out!”

“God! I am so blessed to see you! I thought Yama would come to fetch me! that’s what I had heard!”

“No Child! Your pious nature brought me to take you with me! if you want you can come with me or you can go back to your body!”

“No! God! I don’t want to miss this opportunity to be with you! Take me with you!”

“Child, you could have had some food with that one rupee coin! I gave it to you so that you can buy some food! Why you did not have it?”

“God! You know I am never have begged for money! It was only food! Does my body require anything else! I am too old even to think of money! That small child was so happy with that one rupee coin! That smile seemed better then the one rupee or the food!”

“Child, yes the one rupee coin is with me! the child was me!”

“God! Take me with you!”

The beggar could see God wave his hand and with it there was a tremendous amount of bright light!