It was almost midnight when Kanak parked her car near the road and stepped out.
βCome out, Noor. Itβs not that cold. And anyway, weβre in Jaipur, not Kashmir,β Kanak said with a smirk.
βI hope you know that youβre insane. Itβs February! I donβt even know what the hell weβre doing here,β Noor replied, shivering.
βOpen the back door and help me carry it,β Kanak instructed.
When Noor opened the back door and saw what was inside, her eyes widened. βWhat the hell… When did you buy all these blankets? Is this your idea of adventure?β
βShhβ¦ stop yelling. People are sleeping here. Canβt you see?β Kanak said, lowering her voice. βNow follow me.β
People were sleeping on the footpath. Some didnβt have anything to cover themselves. Others were using torn old blankets. A woman lay on the ground with her baby wrapped up beside her. Quietly, the two girls started placing warm, new blankets over each sleeping figure.
An old woman stirred as she felt the warmth. She looked at them in surprise, then smiled and said, βYou are like God for us.β
βNo, Iβm not Godβ¦ just remember me in your prayers,β Kanak replied gently.
Once they finished, the girls returned to the car.
βWhen did you think of all this?β Noor asked.
βThis morning. When you asked me, βWhatβs the plan for tomorrow?ββ Kanak replied with a smile.
βWe need blessings in life. And when they come from someoneβs heart, they actually work. They canβt afford blankets like us, but we should if we can do something. I feel really good after doing this. I hope you do too,β Kanak added. βBesides, we need blessings to balance our sins.β
βI agree,β Noor said, a little stunned but clearly moved.
βBy the wayβ¦ happy birthday, Kanak,β she added.
The two of them fell asleep later that night under their own blankets, but this time, they were covered in something more than warmthβpeace.
TheSparklingWords // Anushree Vaishnav
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