Need or Happiness?

Saikat reached home. Rohan, his son, came running to him. 

“Papa, look at this drawing! Tell me, how is it?” Saikat was the biggest critic of his five-year old son’s drawings.

He took his son in his arms and meanwhile looked at his drawing. He always was awe-struck at how well can a five-year old draw, whenever he saw his son’s creations.

“This is beautiful beta!” he exclaimed, seeming highly impressed. “This is perhaps one of your best drawings in the recent times!” He planted a kiss on his son’s cheek.

Rohan was really happy. He loved it whenever his father liked his drawings. 

“But papa, I want new sketch-pens. These are not working anymore.” Rohan informed his father showing his sketch-pens. Saikat paused. He checked his pocket as his son was busy analysing his sketch-pens. He had Rs. 30 in his pocket. There were still 5 more days for his salary to be credited. His financial condition wasn’t very good.  

“Rohan, which colour sketch-pens do you need?”

“Papa, I need red, blue, orange, black and yellow.”

“Let’s do one thing. We’ll buy red and blue for now, and we’ll buy the rest after some days. Is that OK?” Saikat tried to negotiate.

“OK Papa.” Rohan seemed a little disappointed, but Saikat had no other option. They went to the stationary shop. 

“Hi, we need two sketch-pens please – one red and one blue.” Saikat asked the shop-keeper.

“Just a minute sir.” The shopkeeper replied.

Just then, a car arrived. Another father-son duo came out of the car. They approached the shop. They looked rich. They came to the shop and asked for a whole packet of sketch-pens. The shopkeeper gave one to them. “How much?” the father asked. “Twenty-five rupees.”

The person handed him the money and they went off with the packet. His son was happily dancing away towards the car.

Seeing the packet, in the other boy’s hands, Rohan said, “Papa...” and he looked at his father. Saikat saw a strange glow in his eyes. Rohan’s look seemed innocent, and the longing for the packet of sketch-pens was very much there. He did not say anything, but his eyes said it all. He was excited to see a packet of pens, and desperate to own one.

“Sir, here you are – one red and a blue sketch-pen. Anything else?” said the shop-keeper.

“Yes, please keep these back. We’ll take the packet.” Saikat said to the shopkeeper and smiled at his son. He felt a strange satisfaction within him.