A Tale of Two Encounters
By Lokanath Mishra
The story revolves around Ratnamani, a college student, and her friends who were staying with Rudra Patra’s family as paying guests. One day, while they were out for a quick bite, they encountered a beggar outside their college canteen. Ratnamani refused to help, but an old farmer standing nearby donated a five-rupee note to the beggar.
As they waited for their food, one of Ratnamani’s classmates ordered a milkshake and fries, but instead of giving it to the beggar, he threw it at him. Ratnamani was appalled and stood up for the beggar, pushing the guy away and calling him out for his behavior. She never spoke to those people again.
However, the old farmer who had initially helped the beggar came to the spot and ordered food for him, showing kindness and compassion. Later, when Ratnamani and her friends returned to Rudra Patra’s house, they discovered that the old farmer was none other than Rudra Patra’s father.
The story then shifts to Rudra Patra’s family, who were struggling financially. His wife was ill, and they couldn’t afford her treatment. The elder son was embarrassed to go to school in torn shoes. When Rudra Patra’s father arrived at the doorstep, the family was surprised. Despite their struggles, the father had come to help his son and family, bringing 10,000 rupees that he had saved from his farming income.
The father’s gesture was a touching display of parental love and sacrifice. The story highlights the contrast between the two encounters – the cruel behavior of Ratnamani’s classmate towards the beggar and the selfless love of Rudra Patra’s father towards his family.
The story concludes with a poignant message about the relationship between parents and children. It reminds us that parents may become a burden to their children, but children are never a burden to their parents. The story encourages us to appreciate the sacrifices our parents make for us and to be humble in our interactions with others.