Alya made tiffin for her children. They were ready for school as early as 7 a.m.
Luke trudged towards his mother. ‘Mama, I have a terrible stomach ache …’ Even before he could complete the sentence, Alya was scowling at him. ‘But … but … but … I … I … promise that I’m going to school; I’m not going to stay home.’
‘Stop making up stories, Luke,’ Fida said with a smile. ‘I don’t think it’s going to work any more.’ Luke shrugged. Alya shook her head in disappointment.
‘I have no idea what to do with this boy.’ She didn’t take the tiffin out of his bag.
They left a little early for school so that they could visit Safa, whose house was on the way to their bus stop.
The door wasn’t locked. They rang the bell, went inside and saw Safa crying. ‘Aunt Zara, is Safa all right?’ Fida asked anxiously.
‘Yes, she is,’ Zara replied painfully.
‘No, I am not! I am hungry!’ said Safa with tears rolling down her cheeks.
She rubbed her hand on her stomach and said again, ‘I am hungry! I’m too hungry, mother.’
Zara hugged her little daughter. She said with a broken heart, ‘Father will come now with lots of food, sweetheart. Why don’t you drink some more water?’ Fida and Luke looked at each other in surprise.
‘What is going on, Aunt Zara?’ they asked, worried. Without waiting for her reply, Fida took out her tiffin, followed by Luke delving into his bag for his. Seeing the tiffins, Safa sprang up from the floor and rushed towards them.
‘Would you like to share some with me?’ offered Fida.
‘I am hungry,’ Safa said, half in hunger and half in despair.
‘Take it all; it’s for you my friend,’ said Fida.[ML1]
‘Thank you; it’s most kind of you.’ Safa’s words came straight from her heart. She opened the tiffin.
‘Fried rice and sausages,’ she said softly, mostly to herself. Her mouth watered and the strange noises that had been emanating from her stomach grew louder. She started eating the food, relishing every morsel. Everyone watched her with an aching heart. Zara saluted the caring little children in her heart.
‘I don’t know what to say!’ Zara cried. ‘What will you eat in the recess?’ she asked miserably.
‘Aunt Zara, don’t worry about us. We had enough in the morning. But tell me, where is Uncle Noor?’ asked Fida. ‘Is he unwell?’
‘Yes, little angel, he is sick. He has a high fever. Still, when he realized that there is no food in the house, he went out fishing in the river without a care for his health. He was thinking that he would sell the fish at the market and buy some rice and vegetables with the money.’ Zara suddenly sighed.
‘A well-built man blocked his way and took the fish from him. Your Uncle Noor was already sick and tired. Unable to fight with that sturdy stranger, he came home with a broken heart and a bleeding nose, murmuring, “God will punish him.”’
‘How sad! What a pity!’ Luke exclaimed.
‘Poor Uncle Noor! Where is he now?’ Fida asked, visibly hurt.
‘He has gone out to fetch some food for Safa,’ Zara said, her heart pounding with stress.
‘Don’t worry, Aunt Zara, Uncle Noor will be fine. He will be back soon,’ said Luke, reassuringly. The reference to time triggered Fida to look at her watch. She flew into a panic.
‘Aunt Zara! We must rush now, or we’ll miss the bus.’ The two children hurriedly said their goodbyes and ran to the bus stop.
Zara stared at the innocent children and prayed, ‘Bless them God.’
At the bus stop, Fida made a phone call to her father to explain the situation in Safa’s house.
‘What?’ cried Amin. He could not believe what Fida was telling him. He took a deep breath and said, ‘You have done an excellent job, kids. I’m proud of you. Don’t worry about the food; I will bring some food to you.’ Fida thanked him.
‘What about the bus fare?’ he tried to tease, but his voice was hoarse.
‘I don’t mind being in trouble as long as I have the courage to face it, Papa. But I won’t trouble my family or let them suffer,’ Fida responded coolly and winked at Luke. Amin whistled, expressing relief.