Dying Ember

Lying down on the cold floor , Raja was staring at the moon lit sky through the holes in the straw ceiling of his old and damaged hut .
Raja is 13 years old and had always been a very nice kid. He always scores the first mark in his class and is well -known in the slum for his good nature. This nature of his had earned him so many friends .
He had inherited that from his parents who were always kind and never fought with any in that slum , where picking fights with others is a common thing . Not a single day passes without someone fighting . It may be for any reason , or not even one .
His father Muthu works as a daily wager under a mason . The recent rains have left him with no job and so no money . This had made others working with him to steal. He was also asked to join them , but he had told them he would never steal . He was trying for a job for nearly a month, but in vain .
His mother lakshmi , works as a maid in a nearby house . This had been the only source of income to their family. Lines of fatigue and sorrow ran through her face but she tried her best to conceal them with a smile . And as a good wife , she managed with what they got . She never complained .
They didn’t have money but they had love to fuel their life. Raja always felt happy for them .
“Raja! Take this tablet pa.” asked his mother reaching towards him with a glass full of water and the medicine .
Raja had been ill for nearly a month and the doctor in the nearby corp. hospital gave them a dozen colored tablets without even examining him.
He took his tablet and gulped so much water that he started to cough .
Then his mother gave him a bowl full of kanji .
Raja made a face on seeing that .
“Ma ! you have been giving me the same thing to eat for more than a month . I need something else to eat today .”
His mother gave back a smile. For a month they have been in a very bad situation and the recent price hikes have made onion and tomato far beyond their reach .
People in the slum have claimed that they soon will become rich man’s vegetables and they will never be able to use them as they usually did.
Understanding that from his mother’s expression , he started eating it . He was so weak to even hold the bowl , so his mother feeded him .
“Tomorrow is Pongal . Prepare something different atleast tomorrow ma..please ” , mumbled raja .
His mother nodded with a smile and told him that she would bring something from the house where she worked .
Happy with thoughts of getting to eat good food tomorrow , he fell asleep .
…
Sun rays protruding through the holes woke him up . To his surprise he found his parents staring at him with their lips curved for a big Good morning smile .
“Get up and take bath soon …all that you asked for is here. ”
He was so happy that he was going to eat something good finally . He rushed up to take bath.
He didn’t feel weak . Probably that medicine had made wonders . After that they started praying, but his eyes went to the food that was served there as an offering to the God .
Then he started enjoying the food . He started with the Sakkara Pongal , and his widened when he had his first gulp . It was great. He was so glad . Its been a long time . Then , he went on for the idlies and the vadaa . He ate as much as he could and really enjoyed every bite .
“This is the best Pongal , Ma !”
His parents gave him a big hug .
It was then , a very old man came by their house .
“Come on Raja . I will give you everything you want . Come soon , its already late” , said the old man .
His parents asked him to go . And there was something around him , like a rope , that pulled him towards the old man . But , he didn’t feel bad , he was happy . He bid farewell to his parents and went with the old man .
….
It was still dark when Lakshmi gave out a huge scream of sorrow . Tears came running down their cheeks. Lakshmi could not take it . Her cries , brought everyone in that slum to their hut . The Crowd peered in , to see Muthu and Lakshmi crying over a motionless body . It was Raja.
He passed away happily in his sleep after a great dream.