Blogchatter A2Z: Malnutrition

"Some long to get a meal once while others waste all their meals."

A ragpicker, Raju, wandered from street to street, picking up waste and looking for a bite to eat in the dump where rich brats dispose of their left food. There were days he lived on water because every day was not a lucky day to get food.


One morning, while exploring the dump for something valuable or food to eat, he ran into another ragpicker, Mohan. Their face-off turned into arguments.


Mohan: What are you doing here? It is my space.


Raju: Are you kidding me? Does your father own this place? 


Mohan: There is no place my father owns, but I found this place first, so the valuables belonging to this place are mine.


Raju: (laughing) I never saw you before. I have been strolling here for the past two weeks. 


Mohan: (agitated) I was out with friends for fishing and hunting in the nearby town. But now that I am back, you have to leave.


Raju: Who are you to ask me to leave? Why should I believe you? And this place is a dump and not designated for anyone. I will do ragpicking here. Stop me if you can.


Mohan understood he could insist Raju leave, so he put forth the hand for friendship. Initially, Raju hesitated. But after thinking for a while, he handshake with Mohan. Both started exploring the dump together and shared whatever they found. 


It was a summer morning in the middle of May, and Raju did not show up at the dump site. Mohan got worried and looked for him in nearby places. He did not know where Raju lived. After some days of searching, he finally saw Raju coming from the government hospital with his father. Mohan ran towards him and scolded him for not showing up at the dump site.


Raju's father informed Mohan about his deteriorating health due to malnutrition. He had tears in his eyes. Mohan could not take it and consoled Mohan's father. Raju felt helpless at this sight, but he hid his tears and took his father and Mohan to their hut. On seeing the hut, Mohan felt surprised that his friend had a roof above his head because he did not have a hut and spent time on the road rag-picking and wandering.


On reaching their hut, Raju's mother rushed towards them, asking his father what the doctor told them. Raju's father informed that the doctor told Raju has an infection due to poor eating habits. He started crying. Raju's mother tried to calm his father, but he sobbed and cursed himself for being an impoverished father who could not provide food for his only son.


Raju wiped his father's tears and told him it was his mistake to eat whatever he found at the dump site. Raju's father felt surprised to know this and scolded him. He told him to stay home and eat what he would get. He assured Raju that he would work harder to get him food and he would not go for rag picking anymore. Raju hugged his father and asked if they could keep Mohan in their hut. Before Raju's father could say anything, his mother embraced Mohan and told him he would live with them.


I'm participating in #BlogchatterA2Z.

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