Imagining

As I trudged home, I walked past the mama shop. There was a foreign worker who had just bought a can of coke and was walking towards the bench near the shop.

Just my imagination.

Having bought his favourite drink, Madresh walked towards the bench and sat down to enjoy the cool night. It had been a hard day of work at the construction site. His aching muscles cried out in relief as he sat down.

Watching the young people playing basketball at the nearby basketball court, he yearned for the energy and youthfulness of the teenagers. But alas! He felt old now. 36 years of age, with a family of eight waiting for him back home at Sri Lanka, he will have to endure.

With trembling fingers, Madresh pulled the tab of the can. That was his only indulgence, and he will only buy it after a hard day of work. Taking a sip, he let the icy cold coca-cola flowed through his throat, and into his stomache. With a sigh, he looked up and saw a young man walking by.

Their eyes met.

The young man smiled at him. And he smiled back. That had made his day. Suddenly, there seems to be hope. Madresh felt a renewed surge of energy in his body. He will work hard, and save a lot of money. Then he will packed up and go back to Sri Lanka, to be with his wife, his children, and his ageing parents.

There, he will set up a small family business.

There, he will be happy with his family.

Madresh took another sip of his coke, and smiled to himself.