The Toy Story

I hope you are home abiding by the lock-down rules, staying healthy, spending time with your family and keeping yourself busy. It has been a while we chatted, hence thought of checking on you.  I am grateful you all liked the previous story And then the first few drops fell...

Many of you asked if I have other stories to share. Surely, there are many. Today’s one is a personal favorite of mine.

Many years ago, in a remote village of Bengal, there lived a rich man. The man and his wife had no children. Desperate to have a child, they consulted many doctors. They even kept fasts, chanted mantras, visited holy men, fed the poor and donated huge sums for charity. They hoped all of these or at least one of the advices would help them. Sadly, none worked, and they were bereft of the joy of being a parent.  

One day, while they are returning from a trip to a mountain shrine, they passed through a jungle. Suddenly, the wife pulled her husband’s sleeve. Do you hear? Or am I hallucinating, she asked teary eyed? The man cupped his ear and tried to listen carefully. Yes, he exclaimed, it seems like a baby crying! Frantically, they started combing the area, and to their utter surprise, found an infant wrapped in a banana leaf dumped mercilessly behind a thorny bush. The wife let out a wail, how can someone be so cruel? Saying this she picked up the baby and clung it to her heart.

Seasons passed and soon the baby became a toddler. They named him Aryamaan. The man and his wife did not let him out of their sight even once. He had princely clothes to wear and the cook was instructed to prepare the choicest delicacies for him each day. His room was filled with toys of all shapes, colors and sizes. Imported ones lined the racks. When Aryamaan went to school, an attendant would escort him, wait for the entire duration and accompany him back.  When at home, half a dozen people waited on him all the time.

Now all this pampering got into the boy’s head. He became fussy and started throwing tantrums at the slightest of pretexts. Initially, the man and his wife mistook all of this to be a child demanding attention, and they plied him on with more pampering. Nothing helped. The boy knew he could always have his way in the house, especially around his parents. And this made him even more obstinate. The worst affected were his toys. Poor things! He would chew them, tear them apart, stomp over them, hammer them till they broke, or stash them away in some corner of the house. The imported ones stopped exciting him the day they arrived, one look, and he would get over them, never to re look again.

The man and wife were completely at their wits end. They tried every trick in the book to please him, but the more they tried, the more recluse Aryamaan became. He would now shut himself in his room, and all they heard was the noise of toys being broken or his shrieks. There were days he even refused food. The once doting parents could only watch their son helplessly from a distance.

Now in the same house, unaware of all this drama, lived another boy. Raghu was the same age as Aryamaan. He was Rajaram, the rich man’s gardener’s son. Raghu lived in the attendant’s quarter with his father. His mother died while giving birth to him. The room they occupied was very sparse - a cot, few utensils, a cloth line to hang clothes and a derelict table fan. Their only luxury! During the hot summer months, one could hear the fan noisily humming away, trying its best to provide some relief from the sweltering heat.

During the day while Rajaram tended to the rich man’s garden, Raghu would keep himself busy with a ragged teddy bear. He had found it lying in a corner of the garden. It was love at first sight for both. Raghu called him Bhalu. Both friends set on many an expedition and adventure together. They climbed tall mountains, sailed on turbulent seas, rode wild elephants, hunted ferocious tigers, sipped the nectar of strange flowers (the secret to their superpowers!) Just the other day, they had tamed a dinosaur and made it their ride. The dinosaur took them to a magic castle which was full of toys. Every toy in the world was there. Ah, what innocent fun they had! Both would laugh together, rolling on the floor, over the jokes Raghu shared. Rajaram, stealing glances from his work, also joined in sometimes to have a light moment with his son. Life was indeed beautiful! 

One day, while Raghu was regaling Bhalu with the story of the flying elephant who could also swim, the rich man dropped by. He had come looking for Rajaram, when suddenly, the warmth and mirth in Raghu’s laugh caught his attention. How can anyone laugh with such gay abandon? He stopped by their room, and peered in. The sight that greeted him, almost took his breath away! Raghu was lying on the floor with the teddy on his chest and talking animatedly. In between, he would squeal with delight, and then laugh raucously. It seemed he was having the time of his life. The rich man watched spellbound. He had never seen such a happy child before!

That evening he called Rajaram to meet him. Bring your son too, he asked. When the father and son came, they found the man and his wife waiting for them. Crestfallen, the rich man narrated his ordeal. He lamented, I am a failed father, however hard I try, I can never make my son happy, he never smiles let alone laugh.  As a father I want to make one last effort. With folded hands, he turned to Raghu. Son, I have seen how happy you are all the time, and the great bond you have with this teddy. It seems to me that this toy is the source of all your happiness, if you give this to Aryamaan, he too shall be happy. A helpless father is asking this of you.  Please don’t refuse. The wife too nodded pleadingly.

Raghu was standing there tightly holding onto the teddy. The next moment, he handed over his only possession, his best friend Bhalu to the rich man. And then, he turned around, took his father’s hand and both walked away. Not once did Raghu look back.

Let us all be like Raghu. Selfless love, innocent laugh, seeking pleasures in whatever life offers. And, then at the first available opportunity, eager to give it all away. Not caring even if it is one's most prized possession. The world today needs more of Raghus. A little love will surely heal this broken world.

Well, if you liked today’s story, do share your comments and feedback at chakraborty.ashish@gmail.com. Until next time, stay blessed and happy! And be a Raghu in someone’s life if you can be.