A true gentleman becomes a thief!

This is the story of a true gentleman who steals a writer's pen and diary!

James was sitting in the park as usual with his pen and diary, looking for inspiration in the birds of the air, clouds of the skies, grass of the earth, lively kids and boring adults busy with their cell phones. His eyes wandered everywhere in search of a spark which could ignite his imagination. But it looked like inspiration was playing hide and seek with him.

He was lost in the deep sea of his thoughts. He noticed a young boy staring at him. He ignored at first but later something happened. The boy moved a bit closer to him. James being a very keen observer found something strange about this guy. He looked like about fifteen years of age. He was dressed in shabby clothes and hair was all tangled up. His eyes looked as if he had not slept for weeks.

James thought for a while and returned back to his home. Next day he went back to the same park, sat on the same bench and did the same thing he did yesterday and had been doing since years. He was reminded of the boy he saw yesterday and searched for him but he couldn't find him. He thought to himself that he is wasting time and got back to work on his article. While thinking about what to write next he kept his pen and diary besides him on the bench. He adjusted his posture and started thinking. Then out of no where the boy appeared and stole the pen and diary and tried to run away. James caught a glimpse of him and recognized that he was the same boy he saw yesterday. He tried to catch hold of him but he couldn't. He wondered why would someone steal the humble pen and its lover, the notepad.

Next day he was invited by a school to give a lecture on 'choosing the career of their choice' to the students. When the lecture was about to finish he noticed that same boy sitting on the last seat. He concluded his lecture saying, "In life, you need not be a big man but you must become a gentleman." The boy realised that it was meant for him. But did not speak up.

As the lecture finished and school got dismissed, James followed this boy to his home. He quietly hid behind some bushes and watched the boy. His house was just too small to be called a house. Just enough for his family. Family! Oh my God! James saw something which scared the living day lights out of him. There was the boy's mother, a single parent who was on her sick bed, and six younger siblings of the boy. They had a short prayer time followed by lunch. A very small and simple meal. I wonder whether each one of them got at least one slice of bread. The boy fed his mother with his tender hands and tears rolling down his cheeks.

This isn't the end of it. What happens next is even more unbelievable.

The children came out in the open air. The eldest boy held the pen and diary in his hands. He tore papers out of it and gave them to each one of his siblings. Then he taught alphabet to the younger lot and maths to the other lot. He scolded the cute little youngest girl for wasting lot of space. She got scared and said, " Sorry". The big brother melted down and hugged his sister with moist eyes. He controlled his emotions and continued. After the class the younger children went out to play and the elders sat in a circle and weaved baskets out of scratch. James noticed the beautiful work done by the children.

Unable hold his peace James came out of his hiding. The boy got surprised and scared. He started giving an explanation, "Sir please forgive me. Don't hand me over to the police. I beg you sir. If you want I will give you two of my baskets as a compensation." James stopped him and said, "I did not come here to hand you over to the police, I came here to buy your baskets." The boy was startled. He got excited and showed him his best models. James bought two blue baskets and three bright yellow flower vases. The boy said, "One hundred and seventy five rupees, sir." James handed him two hundred rupee notes and asked him to keep the change. He said, "No!" And returned twenty five rupees. James was about to go back when the boy called him from behind and said, "Sir I know that the thing for which you came here is not done." James turned back.

The boy narrated his sad story. He said that his father was a drunkard. He used to beat his mother and abuse her. "One day he died of a disease. I don't even care about it. Since then my amma has been taking care of us. Seven children was a huge thing for her but she loves us all. We are poor and can't afford education. I being the eldest go to school and study. I teach what I learn to my brothers and sisters. I help my mother in making baskets and sell them. Now she is very sick and business is not running well. So I am unable to provide my siblings with requirements. So I had to do what I did. I am so sorry I could not become a gentleman. I promise you I will work harder and never repeat this crime again."

James replied, "You are a true gentleman!"