In English
After the battle of Rangoon, it so happened members of each family got separated from each other. Mother and son, husband and wife were separated as a result of the war. They were all having to move on their own. In such circumstances, when the husband took one way, the wife took the two children and had to take another way. One of the children was two years of age and the second one was five years old. Somehow. or other the mother was looking after these two children and she reached a village on the border with great difficulty. Since that place was filled with refugees who came from the battle area, they were not even able to beg and feed themselves. The mother used to go round and beg for some food. She used to bring the little food that she gathered and feed the two children and used to starve herself. After some time, when things went on in this manner, the mother became very weak and that itself became a disease for her. The mother had no strength to go out and beg for food. One day, the five-year old boy went and took the hands of his mother and said, “Mother, you are too weak to go and beg. You need rest. You sit under the tree. I will go and beg for food and bring it and feed you.” When some days went on like that, whatever food this elder boy could get, had to be used for feeding the mother and feeding the younger child; and he himself had to starve. The mother used to insist on knowing what the truth was, but the boy would say that he already had his food. In truth, he was starving. Mother used to believe in his statements and take her own food. After some time, even this boy lost the strength by which he could go and get some food. One day he went to a house, he found that master of the house was sitting in an easy chair and reading the newspaper. The boy said, “I have come for the sake of begging; “.” The master of the house recognised the condition in which this boy was asking for food and took pity on him and said, “You come and sit here. I will bring a leaf and some tiffin and you can eat here only.” The boy did not agree to that suggestion. The boy said, “I want the food to be given in my hand. I want to take it with me.” The owner of the house was very surprised. He said, “You are very hungry and when I want to give you food, you say no, what is the meaning of this?” When the owner of the house was questioning the boy in this manner, the boy lost all his strength and fell down. When the boy fell down in a swoon, the master of the house went close to him and he found that the boy was uttering some words which were barely audible. The master tried to understand and listen to what the boy was saying. He understood that the boy was saying, “I do not need food. Do not give me food. But give whatever food you can to my mother.” So saying, he lost his life.