The Prayer

They say beggars are not choosers. How true! After all, they have to accept whatever is given to them, or is, at times, thrown at. Shyam was one such street urchin. The clothes covering his body were someone else’s. The food he ingested was leftover, usually meant for stray dogs and cows. His daily income was about fifty rupees. In short, it was a hand to mouth existence for him. But, to his credit, he never lost faith in God. He always looked forward to that bright sunny morning of his life when he too, like the people giving him something to wear or something to eat, would be happy and would have enough to spare it to a less fortunate one. His first earning always went to a nearby Hanuman temple. One day, the priest there laughed aloud mockingly, “What will a beggar give to the Almighty?” Shyam quietly replied, “In front of him, I am as much of a beggar as Ambani. We all come here, give as much as we can and beg to Him for all good things in life. I beg for my next meal only. The big seths beg for so much money. Now who is a bigger beggar?” The priest had no reply.Such was Shyam’s unwavering faith in God. He was an orphan. The first thing he saw on opening his eyes was the dustbin in which he was sleeping. The first words he uttered were “Kuch de do baba” He got his first earnings of two rupees from a disciple visiting the Hanuman temple. That was why he always donated his first earnings to the temple.Everyday, Shyam prayed for the same things- food, money and a place to sleep. To some extent, his prayers were answered. He got enough money to buy himself some food. If on a particularly unlucky day, he didn’t earn anything, then someone would give him something to eat. Thanks to the rampant digging of roads for pipelines, he found a pipe to sleep. But one day, his fervent prayer was so unique that God himself felt compelled to reply to it. Of course Shyam didn’t hear a sound from the sky or anything like that, which is reserved only for TV serials. All he felt was a sudden feeling of thrill and happiness without any reason. That had been, infact, one of those days when he didn’t earn anything. Today, no body had even given him anything to eat. But, as he walked out of the temple, a short, cheerful person handed him a lottery ticket, saying, “Son, this is my lucky number. You will surely win. I don’t have anything else to give you today. Listen the radio tomorrow at 10 AM. You will know the result. They will announce the names of the top ten winners, and God willing, you will be the lucky one.” Saying this, the man walked away.Shyam could not believe his senses. In his hand was his ticket to fortune, but that was not he had asked for. He was both disappointed and pleased. He carefully put the ticket in his pocket. A couple saw him doing so. They went to him asked him about the ticket. Shyam, in all his innocence narrated the various events that led to the acquisition of the ticket by him. The couple, Shekhar and Shefali, got tempted. “Son, you know what, Lord Hanuman came in my dreams yesterday and told me that a boy named Shyam will be holding a lottery ticket, and if I adopt that boy, our life would be blessed. Tell me son, will you accept us as your parents?”, Shekhar asked. Shyam, who had never known what is it to have parents, was totally moved. He said yes with a lump in his throat. Shekhar grinned deviously, pocketing the lottery ticket.That day, the results were announced for the tenth winner of the lottery. Shyam’s number wasn’t there.“Have we done a mistake by adopting this beggar boy?”, Shefali asked Shyam that evening.“Not at all. He may win the lottery after all, in fact, he may win a bigger prize. And if he doesn’t, we can always throw him out after ten days!” Shekhar replied.After second day too, Shyam’s number hadn’t won. Shefali was now very angry with Shekhar for keeping the boy. She said Shyam was dirtying her carpets, watched TV all day and has a negative influence on their children.“But there is one good point to him. He does all the household chores. Saves the money of the maid. If he doesn’t win, let’s keep him as household help.” Shefali added.“But Shefali, it will be unfair to the boy.” Shekhar objected.“Unfair? Our home is better than those dirty pipes where he sleeps. Our food is fresh and hot. We are giving him clothes. Its just that he has to do some work. That’s all.” Shefali reasoned.Shekhar had no reply to this argument. Days went by. No result on third, fourth or even the fifth day. But Shefali’s complaints were getting lesser and lesser.“Actually he’s a sweet boy. Poor fellow, he has been deprived of his basic needs for so long! No wonder he gapes with amazement at our home. I am happy he will stay with us after ten days too.” Shefali said.Shekhar was pleased with this change of heart, albeit partial, in Shefali. He took great pity in Shyam and wanted him to stay with them, not as a servant, but as a son. He knew Shefali would never agree to this.But, the only bright spot in Shekhar’s family was this little change of heart in Shefali. Otherwise, the lottery results were not yet in their favor. Only two days were left now. Keeping Shyam was now fast turning out to be a dead investment. Any sympathetic feelings they were having towards the boy were fast disappearing. In fact, Shekhar had discreetly packed Shyam’s little jholi. He had planned to throw him out. Even Shefali, for all her motherly feelings, was helpless against the cold light of logic. What the hell was the role of an orphan beggar in their life, that too someone whom they had known since only a week? It was logical that he had to go. He had to face life alone. That was his destiny, they decided. Their behavior towards Shyam changed all of sudden from warm treatment to cold indifference. Poor Shyam was totally puzzled at this sudden change. He had no clue what was going on in their minds about him.Finally, the last day came. The whole family sat around the radio. The announcer spoke in loud, beaming voice, “And now, the prize that we all were waiting for- The first prize! And it goes to ticket number 12456. The lucky winner must come to the city office and collect the prize.”The whole family erupted with joy. It was Shyam after all! He had won! That day was the best in Shyam’s life. The family went out for lunch at the most expensive restaurant, went to watched a movie in the best seats and enjoyed the whole day. Then, they finally reached the city office of the radio station.
Shyam went inside and showed his lottery ticket. He was ushered inside a room full of various buttons and microphones. The person sitting there introduced himself as the RJ. Shyam thought he would give him the bag full of money. But instead, the RJ announced, “Friends! This lottery was a social experiment of our radio station. It was to find the luckiest person in the city. Of course, the one who won the lottery is the luckiest! So ladies and gentlemen, here I present Shyam! So Shyam, what does it feel to be the luckiest person of the city?”Shyam was dazed. He had not expected something like this. No money! What he will say to Shekhar and Shefali, he thought. He stammered, “Err… will I be given any money?”“No, my friend. But you will be recognized all over the city.”“Am I being heard all over the city?” Shyam asked.“Yes. Every one can hear you.” RJ replied.“In that case, I would like to say something about my parents- Shekhar and Shefali. I was an orphan beggar. They kept me with them, treated me like their own son and told me that they will adopt me soon. I had not known what are parents like. I always thought that those with parents are very lucky. Today, I am proud to say that even I have parents, and the best ones in the world. Lottery or not, I feel I am indeed the luckiest person, not only in this city, but in the whole world. Thanks you mom and dad.” Shyam spoke amidst tears.He couldn’t see the scene outside the office. When they heard his speech, Shekhar and Shefali were shocked. What were they thinking about him and what he turned out to be! Both were in tears when Shyam came out with bouquets of roses. Their next stop was a lawyer’s office where they filed papers for Shyam’s adoption. Finally Shyam had his parents.People might wonder, if money was not Shyam’s prayer to God, then what did he pray for so fervently, that God himself had to come? Well, this was what he had prayed“O Almighty, You grant my same wish of food and shelter everyday. Today, I saw a boy playing with his father. I have never known what it means to have a father. Oh God, please give me a set of loving parents, who give me love, who console me when I am sad. Please God, fulfill this little wish of mine.”
The next time Shyam went with his newly acquired family to the Hanuman temple, he saw the idol of God wink a little at him. He grinned back. His life was now complete. The idol looked different to him suddenly for an instance; it had the appearance of a short, portly fellow, with a divine, all knowing smile.God is great. Indeed.