"Challenges are what makes life interesting" I had heard this quote a dozen times, It never made sense to me. I was working a tough job. I had to work 11 hours a day, I could barely spend time with my 5 year old daughter and my wife. We lived in a small house whose rent I could barely afford, My name is Riyaz. I moved from India to Beijing a few months ago. Life is tough here. I didn't even know Chinese and I was working the fourth job that month, I was fired from the first three.
"You should come early today, its Zara's birthday." "I can't, the job of a salesman is not easy and you know that, if I leave early, my boss will fire me and who knows we might not be able to afford dinner tonight" Hearing us argue, my daughter woke up and ran to me. "Abba will you bring a cake for me? Its my birthday!" My daughter's innocence melted my heart, "Of course I will Zara! We will celebrate your birthday tonight with the sweetest cake!" I looked at my wife and she whispered to me- "We have not payed rent since the last few months, the landlord- "I have to leave! Bye."
I walked down the same street I walked every day, Street no. 7. A street as boring as its name. There were barely any shops. Most of them stayed closed. It was rather quiet. A quiet place in Beijing! Imagining that made me laugh. The only people I saw there were a few kids playing in a playground and a monk, who sat beside a sign that said- "Help will come to those who need it". That was the most common and boring quote I had heard. He did not ask for money but I tried to give him a few coins every time. He just smiled. Everyone else who passed by him just ignored him. That day was really hectic for me. The company sold graphic cards for computers and I had to stay on the field all day, going to different places. I was still in training and I had not sold anything yet, So I was not getting payed much.
That day I was returning from work at night and I remembered about Zara's birthday, She would be devastated if I went home without a cake. I sat on the sidewalk and broke down. The monk who always sat there came to me. "What's wrong?" I was so frustrated, I was glad I had someone to talk to. "What kind of a father am I if I can't make my daughter happy even on her birthday! I work hard, I have never done anything wrong! Why me? The monk put his hand on my head- "Your wish will be fulfilled if you are honest" That was all he said and then he walked away. I got up, pulled myself together and got up. "Hey Riyaz wait up!" I turned and it was my friend from my old job, Sahil. "What happened, is everything ok?" I asked.
He sighed and said- "Dude! I got this cake for my girlfriend and she just stood me up. I sat there at our house waiting for her with a cake and she did not come, I wanted to celebrate her birthday with her." "Oh, I am sorry, you should call her maybe." "Eh I will. I just don't know what to do with this cake, If I put it in the freezer and she finds out, it will just make her sad she stood me up, Oh, you can take it! Here!" I never liked taking things from someone else so I resisted. "Oh, but I can't pay the-" "Oh you don't need to pay me! Take it!"
I did not know what happened that day but I went home with a cake for my daughter. She was happy. I met the monk the next day and he waved at me. I felt a little surprised but I waved back. "So, did your daughter like the cake? " I was shocked. "But, you were not there!"
"Oh innocent one, I am always there. By the way, you should go to Xidan street, I here someone is serving free noodles today, only today." I just said nothing and walked by. I always wondered how he knew English so well. While returning from home, I thought I should visit Xidan street once, it was really close to street 7. What if this monk was telling the truth, a monk would not lie. Although, he did seem a little crazy. But if I could get those noodles, I wanted to take them home, my wife loved noodles.
When I reached there, I was surprised to see that they were giving free noodles. "Why are you selling them for free today?" I asked. "You see, I have cancer and this is most probably my last day alive. I would rather spend my final time making people happy by selling my noodles than being hooked up to pipes and needles in a hospital. I never had a family so now everyone can be my family!" He gave me some noodles, I was happy that he was enjoying and I could make my wife happy today. I was just leaving when a person wearing a suit tapped my shoulder. "Hey! Its you! I see you running up and down these streets all day, you are a salesman, right? I need a hardworking man like you in my company, I will pay you good, no training period." I said yes. We ate there together and talked. After that I went home. I told my wife everything and we were so happy we could buy our own house.
It has been a few months now, I was passing by street seven when I remembered the monk who had directed me to that noodle shop. If he had not told me, I would not have been where I am. I wanted to talk to him but he was nowhere to be seen. I felt a sudden tap on my shoulder, It was him! "So, how is the new job, is your family happy?" Tears rolled down my eyes and I told him how I met the man who gave me the job at the noodle shop he told me to go to. Just then, a kid screamed- "Hey man, are you crazy? Who are you talking to? There is no one there!" I turned and the monk was gone. I was puzzled. Who was he? How did he know how to help me? Where did he go?
I was wondering this when I saw a quote written on a wall in English- "God will come to help quietly and leave quietly as well".
-By Dhairya
It was an amazing story ! Quite engrossing...
😀