New beginnings

After a few days break at home,

I landed in London

A new city, new environment.

I took a deep breath of the fresh, different air and took a taxi to London Marriott Hotel my friend suggested.

So, I was here by myself, knowing almost nothing about this gorgeous place.

The taxi dropped me to an extravagant hotel which made my mouth open wide. It had a river view and there was a giant *** ferris wheel. The London eye, they called it. I almost broke my neck looking at it.

...

I promised to myself I'll go here and went inside the hotel.

I came to my room, took a bath, ate and slept like a panda.

I woke up early and jumped out of my bed completely energised. Excitement filling me up. I moved my curtains and looked out the window. In the bustling city where everyone was rushing to their work, standing here I found myself in serenity.

Most of the hotels promised good views but this one was proving it.

The Thames river flowing peacefully, the famous Big Ben was visible too.

Now I knew why my friend suggested it.

After looking at the city from my hotel window,now was the time to explore it and look for a home for myself because I can't stay in the hotel forever.

I started with a lot of zeal but wandered to many homes but wasn't sure about any.

I was tired and was returning back to the hotel hoping to find a good place to live from tomorrow. I wasn't expecting to find a great place on the first day anyways so I didn't let disappointment take over me.

On my way back I saw a homeless child with wounds and bruises all over his body.

He was alone. What was he doing here alone? Where were his parents?

He was just sitting idle on a piece of cloth.

He was as thin as a stick. Seemed to be living like this for quite some time. But how?

I went up to him and asked him sounding as innocuous as I could.

"Hey, are you alone?"

He was silent for some time as if thinking, was it wise enough to respond to me or not.

Then looked up to face me.

And then he nodded.

"Where are your parents?" I asked worriedly.

He took a pause again and then shook his head with tears filling up in his eyes.

"How did you get hurt?" I continued to ask him.

"...Had a fight with some boys. They beat me up for not listening to them" he mustered up the courage to say.

"Were they your friends? What were they asking you to do?" I asked.

He took a pause again and then replied shaking his head " They wanted me to get into bad stuff . I didn't want to."

I felt bad for him. How would this little boy be living in this cruel world alone? What would he be suffering everyday?

"Can you let me examine your wounds?" I asked with empathy.

He showed me his hands.

" Does it hurt?" I asked looking at his small hands covered with dried blood, bruises and cuts all over.

"Earlier it did. Now it doesn't.

I'm used to it. I have to be strong."

I was shook. Sometimes even children teach you so much. How could a guy this small, homeless, without parents, with all these sufferings still be so optimistic, calm and strong?

I took out the first aid I always carry with me and took out an antiseptic and cleaned his wounds and bandaged them.

"Are you hungry?" I asked.

He nodded in response.

"Can I take you to a nearby shop?"

He stood up.

I asked him to hold my hand and took him to eat.

In this new city, he seemed to be my first friend.

I asked him " What would you like to eat?"

"Anything"he replied..

I bought him a burger, fries and a drink and I had never seen that genuine elation on anyone's face like his before.

I took him to a nearby store to buy him some clothes and he took me to show me a nearby park.

It was 8pm now.