It was an unpleasantly brisk winter’s eve. The sun was on its way back home and so were the people after spending the last Sunday of December, on streets and parks. The gleeful smile sat cosy on the lips of children, who held their parent’s hands while going back to their homes, clad in fancy adorable shoes with woollen socks inside, to keep their feet warm and secured from the chilly frosty winds outside. They were all attired in denim, wool, and leather cardigans and jackets, to keep them safe from the harsh, biting weather as merciless as a barbarian, willing to rip all apart.

Tired after spending time nibbling on the leftover chips of these elite children, the inquisitive sparrow perched on an electric pole. The sights and sounds of this place were always electrifying for the sparrow. He spent the day waiting for the evening so that he could witness the hustle and bustle of the city, which claimed warmth and life even in these glacial eves, as he always wanted to be a human.

While his eyes were sparking with a fondness for the people on the street, he noticed a tramp boy who was clad in a torn shirt.

“The boy must be hungry,” the sparrow thought.

The boy’s shabby appearance indicated that he was poor beyond words and was also starving. The boy went to Karim, who had the grandest juice shop in town, hoping to quench his thirst with a heavenly taste of some juice. Karim was busy chatting on his new expensive mobile phone, so he didn’t notice the little derelict.

The boy tried to get his attention, but Karim remained busy talking on his phone. The little boy then went to Nazim bhai, the owner of a tea stall nearby. Unfortunately, Nazim bhai was also occupied in scolding his seven-year-old worker, who had not properly cleaned the table.

Failing at his attempt once again, the lad hesitated a little but managed to turn to a bunch of happy teenagers. He stood near them and gazed at the brand-new sneakers Asim was wearing. The boy tugged at Asim’s Adidas leather jacket to get his attention, but Asim was too busy chatting with his friends.

The poor boy slowly walked away and sat on the pavement under the tree, looked towards the sky and then his eyes caught the sight of the sparrow. The boy and sparrow kept looking at each other and suddenly lamps of those tiny black sparkling eyes started to dim with fatigue and hunger. Seeing this, the sparrow started moving restlessly from one pole to another, trying to communicate with those heartless, busy people on the street.

As if the sparrow’s heartfelt desire and prayer was heard, and Asim turned in the child’s direction. Asim saw the poor little frail kid sitting on the pavement, leaning against a tree. Asim felt an unusual pain in his heart, he could not accept that on the chilly winter night, when everyone was wearing double and triple layers of warm clothing, the child was barely in single shirt with shabby open slipper.

Asim got up and went to a nearby cart selling second-hand sweaters and socks. He bought a pair of each and gestured to the worker of the tea stall to bring chai paratha to the boy. Asim’s friends observed him from a distance, having no idea what their friend would do next.

Asim sat beside the boy and noticed that he was shivering. “Hey, little boy, here wear this sweater and socks, you will feel better. And try to sit under the sunlight and not under any tree, you will be warmer,” Asim said.

The boy looked in amazement, a faint smile appeared on his face, as if a glimmer of hope had illuminated his world. He took the sweater and socks from him. Then the chai paratha was brought for him.

Asim got up and said, “Come sit with us on the bench!”

The sparrow, watching from above, felt a flutter of joy. The boy was happy beyond words and seated himself at the corner near the tea stall. Asim’s friends were impressed and also speechless as he went back to sit with him.

“Man, you did a great job!” his friends praised him. Asim smiled and turned to see the little boy, now clad in warm clothes and enjoying a hot cup of tea with scrumptious paratha.

Published in Dawn, Young World, January 20th, 2024