Against all odds.

“Mom, look at that man!” cried seven year old Gopal. His tiny index finger was pointed in the direction of the big banyan tree. The big old banyan tree had long been a shelter for the travelers for the only bus stand of Madhopur stood here. Anyone coming into the town or leaving the town had to wait under this big banyan tree for the buses. The usually noisy bus stop was deserted now for many months. There was not a single soul here even though the only bus which went to the nearest city which was seven hours away was scheduled to arrive in fifteen minutes.

Gopal’s mom strained her eyes to find what her son was pointing at. What she saw was not a common sight in the town. It was a tattered old man sitting under the banyan tree. He was not from the town. “Who can be here at this time? When was the last time the town had a visitor?” she wondered. But brave as she was, she proceeded to the bus stop with Gopal. She had been forced to make a decision and she had no option but to stick to it.

As she reached the stop, she couldn’t help but notice this man. Dressed in rags, face covered with wrinkles, a stick for support, he was an ordinary old man. Except his eyes! His eyes were those of a young child. She was scared for a moment, but just a moment. She kept her luggage and her small water bottle at some distance from him and stood facing the other way. “What a creep!” she thought. Gopal was engrossed in his comic book. “Please God, let the bus be on time.” She prayed again and again.
She spun around when she felt movement behind her. He was standing inches away from her. “Do you have water?” his voice was course and heavy.

Water…water was the reason behind everything. The prosperous town of Madhopur once had more than fifty families residing. The main occupation and means of livelihood of these families was farming. This was the fifth year in a row that it had not rained. The wells and the only river in the town had dried up long ago. One by one the families had either perished or left the town. The only means of water was a small pond which was five miles away from the village.

Ever since her husband had fallen victim to the pox and died, it was on her to go to the pond everyday on foot to get water. Two pots of water everyday! One for themselves and the other for the two small plants. These were the plants which provided food all these years. It was amazing, how they had survived for so long. While everyone had left, she had stood, determined to take this battle with the rain God to the last round. She had not only been a mother, she had been a father, a teacher and a friend for Gopal. She had fought against all odds till this very day.

But who can win against the Gods? The pond had dried up two days ago leaving her no option but to leave the town. The last two days had been the most difficult in her life. There was hardly any water left in the house and whatever was left was too little to feed the plants or them. They were without food for almost a day now. The only water she had now was in the bottle, and in the scorching heat Gopal would need that. The first stop of the bus was a good three hours away and it would be pure luck if the water lasted till there.

“Do you have water?” he asked again. “No” she said without thinking trying to cover the small bottle behind her. “We have water, uncle” said Gopal. She was angry now and embarrassed too. “We have water, but it’s too little and we would need it for the journey”. He smiled and asked Gopal “Son, she wants to save the water for you. Do you feel you can give me a little from your share?” “Sure!” he said and offered him the bottle and returned to his book. “Ok, if Gopal feels that way, you can have a little.” She said. “Are you sure that you have no ill feelings towards me?" “No, I don’t.” "Are you sure you won’t think bad of me if I drink some of this?” " "No, I won't." “Do you give me this water with all your heart?” “Yes, I do.”

He opened the bottle and finished the water in one gulp. “Now? Do you feel anything for me? Hatred perhaps?” She wanted to cry. “No” she managed to say.

“I can make out that you are not lying for I have the power to see within. As written in your destiny, you had to face this test in your life. You have given me what was rightfully your child’s. but you have no ill feelings towards me. You have passed. You have defeated me. I give you blessings in return. And I give you rain too” he said and vanished.

And then there was rain!