On a biting cold night of 20th December 1970, I walked aimlessly on a scarcely lit street. It looked like the whole world had plunged into pitch darkness save the faint light from the street lamp, which struggled for it's life, flickered, dimmed and came to life again. Everything around me stood frozen, including my thoughts and emotions. The snow fall had just begun. My nose burned on the coldest night. Every breath I exhaled, let out steam from my mouth. I dug my hands ,safe in warm knitted grey gloves,deeper into my long overcoat. The winter was somber, lonely and a long one. The wind wailed through the streets. My thoughts befuddled and steps directionless,I walked . I walked aimlessly. In the silence of the night ,only the stepping sound of my gumboots on the gravel could be heard. I had drawn my light blue woolen cap down close to my eyes lest anyone should decipher my emotions in my eyes.



My wife passed away a few days ago. She was a rainbow in my life. Her eyes always sparkled with joy. Her smile was contagious. She was a strong anchor in my wayward life. She was consumed by an illness that creeped into her body slowly. While I held her hand on the death bed, my world crashed on me. My will shattered.My life plunged into darkness. The days became bleak and nights burdensome. I aged several years at once. I lost my purpose to exist. I walked for long hours to forget the painful world I lived in.

I walked pre -occupied with my hopeless thoughts, only to be stopped by the clanking of tiny bells and a festoon of shining stars seen from a few feet away.

A beggar seated on the pavement in tattered clothes was meddling with the string of stars worn around his neck. With unkempt hair and torn shoes, he appeared shabby. He was focused on the tangled line of stars trying to unwind it from around his neck. The tiny bells jingled in his right hand at every movement he made. The sharp cold didn't seem to bother him or was he benumbed to the harsh weather?



As my steps drew near him, he suddenly sprang at me, taking me in complete shock. In the faded light I could see the outline of his face. He had a broad forehead with creased lines across it. His eyes were light brown which twinkled brighter than the shining stars around his neck. He had a wrinkled face which had seen many winters. He stopped in front of me not allowing me,to step further.

He stared into my empty eyes searching for something. His eyes peered deep into my soul, stripped it naked and threatened to expose the truth. I averted my gaze ,but he kept searching my eyes for something missing. I felt uncomfortable and forced myself to take a step further when he threw that broad smile at me. The warm smile from his cracked lips dry from cold weather thawed my emotions slowly.

His eyes twinkled as he smiled. The smile made my blood, nerves and every sinew heat up and jolted my heart to function. All my senses came to life . Foggy thoughts cleared ,and I felt a huge burden was taken off my heart. A sense of euphoria washed over me. Happiness seemed to seep through every pore of my skin. I stood transfixed and overcome by joy when the bells clanked and brought me to the present world. He still beamed his warm smile at me as he plucked one of the shining stars from the string and gave it to me. I looked at him non plussed , his twinkling eyes soft on me. In a state of trance, I took the star from his hands. Next moment he moved away giving me space to continue my walk. I clutched the shining star close to my heart ,giving it warmth from my gloves and a thumping heart beat.

I walked down the street ,now my footsteps firmer and confident, as if it regained its purpose. A sense of peace prevailed in me. I took huge strides and reached the corner of the street only to turn back one last time to look at him. There he flashed his magical smile at me again. I turned the corner and walked away carrying his gifted smile on my face.