Story – A winter night
Writer – Oh Henry
his name was, Soapy. He was lying on a bench in Madison Square, tossing and turning restlessly. When wild ducks start screaming loudly even at night, When women, lacking leather coats, begin to sit close to their husbands and when Soapy, lying on a garden bench, begins to toss and turn restlessly., That’s why you have to understand that winter has arrived.
A dry leaf fell into Soapy’s lap. This meant that a frost was about to occur. Soapy understood that now he would have to tighten his belt to face the difficulties of the next winter season and that is why he paced restlessly on the bench.
However, Soapy had no great ideas in mind to escape the cold. He had a plan to survive this weather. And the plan was that I was just praying that I could somehow get through the next three months in jail. That’s right… in jail. What could be a better place than a prison in winter… provision of food… company of other people like him… and protection from the bitter cold and mindless harassing police officers… what else is needed? (Scroll down to read the rest of the story. Or click the link below to listen to the same story on SPOTIFY or APPLE PODCAST)
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Read the rest of the story from here. And this wasn’t the first time… For years, the hospitable Blackwell City Jail had been their winter hideaway. How Other New Yorkers Booked Tickets to Winter in Palm Beach, Soapy used to plan to go to jail in the winter. And if he hadn’t, how would he have spent the winter… He had spent the last night on a bench near the fountain in the same square but under his coat., Not even three thick newspapers wrapped around his knees and below his waist could save him from the cold.
But how to go to jail? He thought of many ways… the best option was to eat in an expensive hotel and then say that he has no money… after this, any sensible magistrate would take all measures on his own.
thinking this Soapy got up from the bench, left the square and walked towards Broadway. He stopped in front of a shiny hotel on Broadway., Where every night you see the splendor of silk clothing., Rivers of excellent grape wine flow and you can enjoy delicious food. But to go to a good hotel you also need good clothes… only then will the host allow you to enter. Soapy was fine with clothes from the waist up. he had shaved, He took off his coat. He also wore the tie that a missionary gave him. There was only one problem with the pants and shoes. He thought…if he gets to the dining table quickly then there will be no problem. Because only the top of the table is visible. Nobody doubts. Thinking about all this, he also decided what to order… Murgh Musallam, Mutton Biryani, some liquor and many more… he made a complete list. But when he arrived at the hotel, something went wrong… The mustachioed doorman at the hotel door noticed his torn pants and old shoes. The game was over.
Soapy returned to Broadway. He understood that now another path would have to be adopted.
He saw a brightly lit store on the bend of Sixth Street., Through whose windows you could see various types of priceless and carefully decorated objects. Soapy picked up a rock and threw it at the glass. The glass shattered into pieces with a loud noise and scattered across the floor. Hearing the noise, people ran from all sides and a police officer came running with them. Soapy smiled after seeing the soldier and stood silently with his hands in his pockets.
“Hey…where did the person who broke the glass go? , the soldier asked
– “What do I mean… here I am… standing in front…?”
– Don’t be kidding… tell me well… where is he?
– Hey, it’s me…
– If you were there, why would you still be standing…?
– Hey I… I’m standing so you can catch me…
– I’m thinking about many things, don’t fight me or I’ll punish you with this stick…
The soldier looked around and saw a man running to catch the bus.
Hey…wait…where are you running…wait?
He ran after her and Soapy stood there. Discouraged.
Soapy thought that this time he would definitely do something so that there would be a witness to his crime… who could say that this man had committed the crime. Now, what could such a crime be? After thinking a lot, I realized that the crime is making fun of a girl who walks on a beautiful path. That girl will testify that this man misbehaved with me.
He moved forward…unbuttoned the cotton in a little tapori style…and began to look at the girls passing by. A girl was seen… Soapy followed her noisily. hoarse cough, He turned and saw Soapy. He winked at her and then pursed his lips and motioned for her to come…
The girl ignored him and continued on. They came and went again. He stopped at a store…they stopped too. And looking him up and down Tapori style, he said: “Why baby?, I’m planning to do something somewhere, Soapy expected a hard slap on the cheek. Then something strange happened… a smile appeared on the girl’s face. They She turned and gently took his arm and said – “Why not darling… I wanted to tell you myself but I was afraid. Where should we go?”
Damn you…
Soapy shook his hand and ran away from there by placing his foot on his head. Oh, bad luck… it seemed as if someone had cast a terrible spell on him and that’s why he couldn’t be arrested. He started to feel nervous and started walking faster.
As he walked, he came in front of a large theater, in front of which a soldier walked with great pride. As soon as he saw the policeman, the desire to be arrested again came over him and this time he started acting like a drunk. He started singing out loud… he started screaming.
The policeman saw him… and was about to approach him when a passerby who was eating ice cream said… “Oh, it’s nothing special.”, Leave it sir… that’s all… There is a boy from the university across the street. They beat Fort College badly in today’s game and are celebrating. nothing to fear,
And upon hearing this, the police officer began to abuse and go to the other side…
Hey listen… Hey… I… I’m not a student… Hey man, you’re doing amazing… Why did you lie… – Soapy said looking at that man… He The man eating ice cream said… Today is my good day, I thought of saving you… I am a very kind-hearted man. Look, I saved you, otherwise I would have taken you to the police station.
Soapy roasted himself… and walked away grumbling. Now the wind had also become stronger. The cold had begun to increase. Soapy closed the buttons on his coat. The homeless man began to walk down the road… When he was walking a little from there, he saw a man entering a tobacco shop. The man placed his new umbrella outside the store, near the door, entered and began to smoke a cigarette.
came to the soap store, He picked up the umbrella and moved forward while walking slowly. Seeing this, the owner of the umbrella quickly left the store and walking behind Soapy said – “Oh brother!, my umbrella ,
Soapy, mocking him and making a scowl at him, said… “Ok! Your umbrella.”, Is this really your umbrella? , then go then, Call the police… call them! That policeman is right in front! Call him!
As soon as he heard the name of the police, the owner of the umbrella suddenly slowed down. He felt like this man was threatening him by telling him that even if he had to tell the police, do it. He thought he was a big bully. The owner of the umbrella said, “Oh., Sorry…sometimes mistakes happen. Now if it’s mine then it’s yours too… that is, what’s mine… or yours… no problem! Keep it…! Saying this, he entered the store.
Angry voice… Soapy got angry and threw the umbrella into a hole. What was happening? It’s a strange situation… anyone gets caught like this… whether they are a criminal or not… and now if someone wants to be arrested, they don’t get caught. Soapy walked back towards Madison Square dejectedly.
On the way he saw an old church, dilapidated but with a large arch. Light came in through the purple glass window and a piano was playing inside. Sometimes a small moment changes you. Soapy heard that voice and went inside. It was a big church with a high ceiling… where the Rohiniyat was spread everywhere inside. The heads of the people were bowed in prayer.
He was familiar with that prayer because he had heard it at a time when sacred thoughts dominated his life., clean clothes, aspirations, flowers, mothers, Sisters and friends also had a place. Soapy felt a unique change in his consciousness due to the emotionality of his mind and the sacred atmosphere of the ancient church. Almost shuddering, he realized how far he had fallen. He stooped so low that, for his own small benefit, he ran away with someone’s umbrella, made fun of a girl… all these things were so bad. How can anyone do this? He began to hate himself. And at that very moment he decided that he would get out of this quagmire. He decided that he would become human again. the evil that has taken hold of him, He will win it. there is still time, He’s not very old yet. He took a deep breath and left the church… He was now a completely new Soapy… full of positive thoughts…
Suddenly, Soapy felt his arm being grabbed. He turned quickly and saw the stern face of a soldier in front of him.
The soldier asked, “What are you doing here?” ,
Soapy said – “Yes, Nothing !”
Police – “Nothing , Then come with me…”
– Hey but why…. Listen then… Lord… Oh, leave it… hey….
The constable took Soapy away… and the next morning the police court magistrate said: “Three months strict imprisonment.”
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