Sarim held his breath as he hid under a parked car. The footsteps came closer until they stopped near the car. Cold sweat broke over Sarim’s forehead, his heart pounding wildly and eyes shut in fear. Sarim lay as still as a log, for he feared they would look down and see him hiding under the car.

“Which way do you think he has gone? The rascal, I will not leave him today! I will hand over the thief to the police this time,” the burly shopkeeper, Raja, said angrily.

“I think he must have taken this dark lane. Let’s go that way,” said Shahrukh, the hawk-like assistant of Raja. With that, the two went toward the side lane and soon disappeared.

Sarim waited for a few more minutes to make sure it was safe enough to come out and to compose his nerves, then he crept out from under the car. Standing up cautiously, but still hiding behind the car, he dusted himself and looked around. There were a few people at some distance, but it was safe for him to move.

While staying in the shadows, Sarim tiptoed quietly like an alley cat, unnoticed, and was soon out of there. He then started to run as swift as a deer towards home.

At home, his siblings and mother were waiting for him, like baby birds waiting for mama bird to return with food. Right now, home was just a charpoy, a rusty trunk with a broken lid, a few sticks trying to hold up a large thick plastic sheet, torn at places, to provide some shade during the day. Lying around were also a few pots and pans, a bucket and some random stuff on a raised ground besides miles and miles of flood water.

Sarim greeted them with a smile and proudly kept the bag in the centre of the charpoy, like a trophy that a champion wins.

“Whoop! What did you get today bhai? I am so hungry!” Sartaj squeaked excitedly.

Sarim took out a large bread loaf, some biscuit packets, two juice packets, and other random food stuff. Everyone eagerly grabbed something and starting eating.

One of his sisters asked, “Why have you not gotten any cooked food? Why do you always get us these kinds of things? It’s been days since I had any daal or meat to eat.”

“Silly girl! They are giving away these things to us because it is easier to distribute. Now you want me to tell them that they should cook a nice fat chicken because my sister wants to eat it?” Sarim teased her.

“Don’t trouble your brother! See he has to walk so far to get the ration being provided by the government. We should be thankful for what we have. Soon the flood water will subside and we will go back home and I will cook you your favourite meat curry,” the mother tried to cheer up the kids.

After they had finished eating, the family slept on the bed and some makeshift stray mattresses. The next morning, there was a lot of activity nearby. Some senior government minister was coming to look at the flood- affected area and affectees.

“Sarim wake up! Go and see why so many people are gathering,” the mother shook him up and ordered. Sarim’s father had died and he was the eldest of the siblings. Though only 14 years, old, Sarim was playing the role of the head of the family.

Reluctantly, Samir got up, rubbed his eyes, put on his tattered slippers and went towards the crowd. He managed to push his way in front of the crowd to get a better look and saw a tall, impressive man, wearing a white shalwar-kameez and a black waistcoat, sitting on a chair. There were some policemen controlling the crowd as people told their problems to the man.

“He is a senior government minister, they are here to help us,” Sarim heard someone nearby whisper.

Suddenly a hand grabbed Sarim by the back of his neck and he almost choked! Then he heard a voice say meanly, “Today you will not escape! I will have you arrested for stealing from my shop!”

It was Raja, the shopkeeper, Sarim had evaded last night. Raja hurled the boy towards a nearby policemen and everyone’s attention soon turned towards them to see what the locomotion was all about.

“What’s happening? Why are you dragging the boy like this?” the minister asked.

“Sir, he is a thief, he has been stealing things from my shop for days now. He should be taught a lesson that he will never forget!” Raja explained, as he pushed Sarim in front of the minister with such force that the boy fell down right near the minister’s feet.

“Okay boy, tell me what the matter is. Why do you steal? You know you can go to jail for this?” the minister spoke to Sarim kindly.

Sarim stood up trembling and spoke, “Sir, I confess that I have stolen things from this man’s shop. If it makes me a thief, then this man is also a thief, and a bigger one …”

“Ooh! What are you saying! Are you in your senses?” roared Raja.

“Yes, you are also a thief because you are stealing from both us and the government and that too goods worth millions of rupees. I only took from your shop what was my right,” Sarim spoke and then turned towards the minister and continued, “The government gives ration for us flood affectees to be distributed by this man and his men. Only a few things are given to us in front of you, and once you will leave, they will take everything and keep it in his shop to sell.

“Sir, the goods in his shop are rightfully ours, but he expects us poor people to pay for it. His act has made me steal what I should have been given for free and with dignity. I have never stolen anything before we lost everything in the floods and I would have not done it now, if I had been given my share of the ration to feed my family.”

“Sir, punish me according to my crime, for stealing a few hundred rupees worth of food that was rightfully mine. And punish him according to his crime, for stealing goods worth millions of rupees and then making profit on it by selling it at inflated rates to others,” when Sarim finished, there was pin drop silence.

“Arrest this shopkeeper!” the minister’s voice rang out as Raja could be heard pleading his innocence.

“Come here boy! Listen, stealing is wrong, no matter who does it and why. And in your case, Raja’s wrong act cannot make yours right. Raja will be punished for his crime and you will also have to face the music for your act. You will have to work as punishment and help my people unload the ration I have brought.

“And as reward for being brave enough to speak up against the wrong that you saw and telling us about it, you will assist the new person I will appoint for distribution here, to make sure that every needy person gets their rightful share. And if there is any issue, just contact me. Here, take my card, it has my contact details.”

Sarim had tears of joy in his eyes as he went to stand beside the truck full of goods.

Published in Dawn, Young World, November 12th, 2022