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The Spirit of Christmas

By Ramendra Kumar; Illustration by Shinod A.P.

Tony counted the notes and coins. He had Rs. 163 in all.

He put the money in his pocket, the money he had saved from his part time job. Today was Christmas eve and he had some important shopping to do.

As he walked towards the market he thought of Christmas eve the previous year. How lovely everything had been. His father, Jacob Kurien, and he had decorated the Christmas tree. He had gone with his mum, Janet and dad to the church to attend the midnight mass.

The next day his mum had baked a huge Christmas cake. He had spent the entire morning opening the gifts which his parents had given him. Later, he and his parents had danced and sang late into the night.

Two weeks later, just a few days before his twelfth birthday, his world had been completely shattered. Jacob was a Correspondent working for The National Tribune. He had been sent to a terrorist-infested area in the north east to do a special story. He had been kidnapped by the terrorists. A week later they had issued a press release mentioning that Jacob had been killed while trying toescape.

Janet and Tony had slowly picked up the pieces of their brokenlives. They had moved to a smaller house in a different locality. Janet had started supplying lunch to office goers working in the offices situated in the multistoried buildings close by. Tony had shifted to a less expensive school closer to their house.

To supplement his mother's earnings he had taken up the job of delivering newspapers on his cycle early in the morning.

Then two months ago Janet fell ill. The doctor had diagnosed typhoid. She had been advised complete bed rest but hadn't paid any heed. As aresult, a month later, she had a relapse. Whatever savings they had were spent on her treatment. They had nothing to spend on Christmas.

Janet was very depressed this Christmas. So Tony decided that he would buy a nice gift for her and a Christmas cake. He was sure this would cheer her up at least a wee bit.

After reaching the main market Tony stepped into a textiles shop and bought a light pink shawl for his mother. It cost him Rs 130.

He next went to a bakery which was right across. At the counter was a middle aged man with a gentle face.

"Uncle can I get a cake for Rs 33 please?"

The man looked at him and smiled.

"I am sorry son. The cheapest we have costs Rs 40."

Disappointment writ large on his face Tony turned back and startedwalking out."

"Hey? Young man wait a minute. Don't look so sad. Today is Christmas Eve. I don't want to see any sad faces today. Here take the cake and Merry Christmas to you ."

"Merry Christmas Uncle and thank you so much," Tony handed him themoney, took the cake and walked out into the cold night.

As he was walking he heard a voices calling out for alms. Tony stopped and looked around. A woman was sitting on the pavement under a tree begging. She appeared blind. Two kids, a girl aged six and a two year old boy, were sitting beside her. Seeing him stop the girl came forward limping.

Tony involuntarily dipped his hand in his pocket. Seeing this gesture the girl scrambled up, her hands stretched forward and her eyes brightened. She said something to her mother which Tony couldn't follow. A smile appeared on the blind woman's face and she started blessing him and thanking him in anticipation of his largesse.