A Bright Talk

Mr. Bright and Kirk went together to the man's home. Mr. Bright had a wooden house which had one big room, enough for three people to live comfortably. There was no bed or furniture, not even a kitchen. However, there was a mirror and a low table and a single large washroom. Kirk wondered how the man used to eat because there was no kitchen. Even before Kirk could ask, the man told him that there was a kind girl who worked as a servant at the rich house opposite to them. She bought and cooked food for Mr. Bright with her own salary and delivered it once in the morning and in the evening. The old man heaved a sigh and said, "I cannot remember how many times I have told her, Bella, her name is, to come and stay here but she says the same things - 'Grandpa you're not understanding','Grandpa, it'll be a trouble for you',''Grandpa, you're old now'. As if I don't understand. She doesn't have a family and has to travel so far to a different town late at night. She is like my daughter but has become more like my mommy you know?" Kirk said thoughtfully, "Who built this house? I mean is it not strange to build a house without a kitchen?" The man smiled emotionally. The man said, "My own son said the same thing to me. I never had a chance to marry and settle with family and all but I sure loved children so I adopted a little boy from the streets. I had struggled a lot and faced so many challenges during my early years but finally could accumulate much wealth. I nurtured my son with all the wealth....he was a brilliant student so his scholarship also helped him grow. My son went abroad by his own hard work and when he came back, he asked the same question as you. Oh! Sorry for talking so much. I built this house with the help of some fellow engineers without a kitchen because I didn't have enough money." Kirk said, "You are an engineer!" The man said, "Actually I was a labourer. Now I work at a furniture shop. It pays me enough to live comfortably." Kirk said, "And your son?" The man said, "Abandoned me. He said that he was ashamed to tell his rich friends that his father was a labourer. So he just left me away... I'm sure till date he doesn't know he was picked up from the streets. Leave that. I forgot to ask your name." Kirk said, "Kirk."