Aryan took his handkerchief and wiped his face and the sweat that had formed on his brow after a hard day at work especially after doing the task that was given to him by the foreman in the course of the morning. The young man went to the side of the construction site to rest with two of his friends alongside him. They sat by a structure that was under construction; there was very limited space in which they could get some shelter from the mid-afternoon sun.
Aryan’s clothes were drenched in sweat as were the clothes of his two companions. Looting construction laborer under the sun is not an easy job and their bodies gave a clear indication that they had only labored. Aryan was still a bit puffed as he was, at least this time they did not get held up from completing their work. As soon as he gained his breath his two friends started to twist the tops off of their water bottles and start pulling out food from their knapsacks.
With his eyes half closed Aryan sat there watching all his friends drink and open their lunch. He gulped, wordlessly realizing that he did not have anything to either drink or eat. He felt the first pangs of hunger in his belly and the dryness in his throat increased. I wish I had a lunch Aryan thought to himself as he felt foolish for having failed to bring his lunch along.
“Damn,” mumbled the head of the household to himself. “This morning I had a bad dream hoping I could shake it off, I left home without taking anything to work.”
He rolled his eyes as two of his friends looked his way and he forced a bitter smile onto his face. One of them, a man with muscular built and tanned skin from the sun, took a sip from his bottle all the while eyeing Aryan.
In a manner which seemed to predict the response, a man inquired anxiously, “Aryan, didn’t you forget to bring your lunch pack?”Aryan smiled bitterly and nodded in response to her words. “Oops, I did forget it Actually this morning was rough.” He responded deeply breathing and then wiping his neck, now drenched in sweat.
His two friends glanced at each other, and without further dicking, they each took out a full water bottle from their bags. One of them then handed the bottle towards Aryan.
‘Then take a seat and have a cup of tea or something, you must be feeling so parched’, the man said with a pleasant look on his face.
Aryan, for somewhat in the moment, was stunned at his friend’s generosity, but he did not reject his friend’s offer. Tenderly, he grabbed the water bottle being extended to him, he was happy to receive it. The tiredness showed through his facial expression, but his hands shook, and slowly he raised the bottle to his lips.
Aryan shut his eyes for a while when the water felt cold in his throat. The cool feeling eliminated the dryness and thirst that came over him much earlier in the day. Every glass of water gave a fresh sensation, which provided a feeling of getting rid of the heat accumulated within him. He sucked the liquid slowly, deliberately making sure that this was not his water. Once the bottle started feeling lighter, Aryan stopped drinking, sweated, and passed the bottle back to his friend.
He nodded and forced a tired but genuine smile, “Thank you.”
Stolen novel; please report.
His friend just nodded and did not speak further, however, he moved his hand in a small way showing that is was not important. But that was not the end of it, for they were very kind to us. One of his friends closed the water bottle and another friend opened the lunch box and glanced at Aryan with a sympathetic look.
‘’Hi, Aryan!’’ He said this and then started putting some of his food towards an empty container. ”You forgot to bring your lunch too, didn’t you? Here, take this, you must be hungry.”Aryan stopped breathing for a second or two due to the fact that he did not expect two of his closest companions to be that magnanimous. He stared at them, unable to believe the concern expressed by the people that were simply his co workers. Several times he watched how openly they shared their meals and this touched his heart.
One of them put his hand on his shoulder and began to speak, which was sudden to Aryan that he jumped. “Well, you are still young, Aryan.” The man said as kindly as he could. You really must take care of yourself, At the very least, bring lunch when you go to work. Don’t just show up empty handed.
Aryan bowed a little bit and blushed and thanked at the same time. Thus, they exchanged a few more words where he blushed and said softly, “Thank you” as his eyes teared up.. He nodded seriously and it seemed to him how a simple sincere word from friends is like a moisturizer on a scorching day.
Even after that Aryan ably held one of the food containers handed to him as his hands still slightly trembled from the fatigue. Inside there was rice steaming hot, small portion of vegetables and at best a piece or two of meat. Taking a long look at the food in front of him, Aryan understanding that this meal is not just a meal but people’s support and fellowship which was something he did not have many times in his harsh life.
Aryan began eating slowly. He put the rice into his mouth using his two hands with slowness and speed at the same time with every grain of rice having a sweet taste to him, more than just mere staple food. This hunger he felt as the morning dew felt every bite almost good enough for him yet Aryan tried not to rush into it. He craved to taste the food slowly, but also simultaneously give a thought to how this kind act made him feel a bit relieved, if not for how long?
With the chewing movements still in his mouth, Aryan felt as if his heart was also filled with the food that he was taking. When the portion was over he could feel his strength coming back to him, the tiredness which had overwhelmed him earlier. Now and then he stole a furtive look at his two companions with feelings of thankfulness which it is impossible to put into words.
Each time Aryan took a bite he felt the food was a lot more important to him. We had simpler vegetables, but they tasted much fresher than the one we had the previous day; the little meat we took felt like a rich meal. He hardly heard the noise that came from the construction machines and people moving around the site as he concentrated on the meal. Every piece of bread was the freedom from his current life of a worker.
Aryan heaved a deep sign after half way into the barbecued chicken, feeling happiness as well as thankfulness well up in him. He looked at the two friends who were also in the process of completing their meals as well and for the first time since he started this job, Aryan did not feel lonely. Perhaps they were merely colleagues, but today they told him: there is something more than that between us; there are concern, there is compassion.
Friends, thank you,” Aryan said again still not knowing how to express his gratitude in any other way.
Aryan’s two friends grinned, one of which only gave a shake of the head and turned back to his food, the other clapped Aryan on the shoulder a second time before leaving them alone.‘Oh do not fret Aryan,’ The man replied cheerfully ‘I am not going to rob you.’ “Today, don’t forget to take your lunch. But in fact, if you forget again, we will definitely share it.”
Aryan laughed gently, although he had lost his strength, his spirit was content. “I will not forget again,” he said to himself. “But I’m glad to be working with you guys. “
After lunch, Aryan took a break for a few minutes so that his stomach could handle the food taken before resuming his working session. While his face indicated fatigue earlier on, it appeared slightly less heavy now not only because of the food which he had digested, but the new spirit which companionship brings. Aryan caught the brief moment of silence and thought to himself – yes, life in this construction site may be harsh and maybe even very challenging, but all of this becomes more palatable if there are moments like this one.
When the break bell rang, Aryan got up from the desk with his two friends who also got prepared for the next activity. The construction project may still continue and may not be completed yet, but for Aryan, today seemed easier to face because of the small act of friends’ courtesy. In any case, although his body was still weary, his spirit rose to embrace what the morrow would bring.