Arina

Chapter Seventeen

The images of the woman pleading to the rich man for him to spare some change kept reappearing in Arina’s mind. She was barely able to sleep for a couple of nights because she felt guilty though she had done nothing directly wrong. All her life she had complained about not having a fulfilling life; whilst all the other girls had everything they wanted in school, she didn’t. She couldn’t go on the expensive school trips because her Baba couldn’t afford it. She couldn’t buy the latest garments in fashion that all her friends had. She couldn't have those huge birthday parties that all her friends had. Arina always thought of her life as unfair.

But now that she had met this woman, she changed Arina’s perspective on life. Even though her past life with Baba was far from luxurious, she still had a roof over her head. Whereas this woman had nothing. No home. No family. No love.

Waking up before everybody early a couple of mornings later, on her next round, Arina attempted to get everything she could to help the homeless woman. She stuffed her pockets with squished packets of porridge- that was the only food she could get her hands on. She also put on extra layers of clothes that she found lying around the place to give to the woman, even though she knew they would in no way fit her. Arina figured it was the thought that counted so as long as the old woman was happy with the gesture, then Arina would be happy.

Everybody looked at her weirdly, but nobody asked any questions. Rushing out of the car later that day, she ran to find the woman sitting on the same bench. The woman’s face lit up when she saw Arina coming in her direction.

For some strange reason, this old woman felt almost compelled by Arina. She hadn’t ever met someone like Arina in the latter days of her life; someone who actually listened to her and looked as if they cared.

           “Oh, well if it isn’t you!” The woman exclaimed, showing a smile of broken teeth. The woman realised she didn’t even know Arina’s name, and so asked her what it was.

           “I’m Arina. What is your name?” Arina said, sitting down next to woman.

Arina was expecting the woman to make a comment about her name, just like everybody else did when she first introduced herself. Luckily, she didn’t.

            “Agatha. It’s nice to meet you.”

           “I’ve brought you some things,” Arina spoke whilst taking off the extra amount of clothing she wore and handed them over to the woman.

           “Oh!” The woman said in happiness. “That’s very kind of you, but I don’t think these are very suited to me.”

           “Can’t you sell them or something?” 

           “Who’d buy anything off of a crazy old woman like me?”

Arina just nodded, realising it was true. If she had seen an old, homeless woman selling someone in the street, no matter how much she wanted or needed that thing, she would not allow herself to buy that thing. That’s when Arina realised that she shouldn’t prejudge people without really knowing them.

           “Well, I bought you some food! It’s only porridge and you might need somewhere to cook it, but it’s all I could get for you.”

           “Oh my God! I’ll tell you what, you’re the kindest person I have ever met in all my time of wandering around the streets. I’d give you a hug now, but I know I don’t smell very kindly and I wouldn’t want to impose that kind of smell on you,” she laughed. Then, randomly, started crying. Tears started falling from her eyes.

Arina didn’t know what to say. She knew that the woman was crying of happiness, but Arina didn’t know what she did exactly that was so great that the woman was now crying. She had brought her clothes that weren’t her size and she had brought her food that she didn’t have the equipment to make.