Chapter 10: "The Weight of Kindness"
### A Chance Encounter
The morning sun bathed the slum in a golden hue, casting long shadows over the narrow lanes. Arjun woke early, still buzzing with thoughts from the previous day's cricket game with the children. As he stepped outside, the same group of kids from yesterday ran around, laughing, their joy unaffected by the harshness of their surroundings. Among them was Roshan, the scrawny boy who had been the most enthusiastic bowler.
Arjun watched for a while, smiling to himself, before heading over to greet them. As he approached, he noticed something different about Roshan. The boy seemed out of breath, his face slightly pale. While the others ran ahead, Roshan lagged behind, leaning against the wall, struggling to catch his breath.
Concerned, Arjun walked up to him. **"Hey, Roshan, you alright?"** he asked, kneeling down to the boy's level.
Roshan smiled weakly and nodded, though it was clear he was struggling. **"I'm fine, bhaiya. Just tired,"** he said, but his words were faint, as if he were trying to hide the pain.
Arjun wasn't convinced. **"Do you feel like this often?"** he asked gently, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder.
Roshan hesitated before nodding again, this time more slowly. **"Sometimes. My chest hurts when I run too much. But it's okay… I don't want to miss the game."**
Arjun's heart sank. The boy's enthusiasm masked something far more troubling. **"Have you seen a doctor about it?"** he asked, his concern deepening.
Roshan shook his head. **"No. My parents said we can't afford it."**
### Learning the Truth
Determined to understand more, Arjun asked Roshan to take him to his house. As they walked through the narrow lanes, Arjun's thoughts drifted to his own father—how he, too, had been unable to afford proper medical care when he fell ill. The memory stung, but it also strengthened Arjun's resolve to help Roshan.
Roshan's house was small, a single-room shack with a tin roof. Inside, his parents sat on a thin mat. Their faces lit up with recognition as soon as they saw Arjun at the door.
**"Arjun bhaiya! Namaste!"** Roshan's father exclaimed, standing up quickly, a mixture of surprise and awe in his voice.
Roshan's mother was equally taken aback. **"We've seen your interviews on TV, your movie *Frames of Hope*! How did you find your way to our home?"**
Arjun smiled, trying to put them at ease. **"Namaste. I was just playing with the kids when I noticed Roshan struggling to breathe. I wanted to talk to you about his health. He seems to have trouble playing, and he told me you haven't been able to see a doctor."**
Roshan's mother sighed, her face lined with worry. **"We took him to a local clinic once, but they said he needed tests and treatment we can't afford. They said it would cost two to four lakhs."**
Arjun could see the helplessness in their eyes. It was a feeling he knew too well, watching his own father's health decline, unable to do anything because of the costs.
**"Did the doctors give you a diagnosis?"** he asked gently.
Roshan's father shook his head. **"They said something was wrong with his heart, but we couldn't pay for the tests. We don't know exactly what it is."**
### A Promise to Help
Hearing their story, Arjun felt a deep surge of empathy. His father's voice echoed in his mind, the words he had lived by: *"You may not be able to help everyone, but you can always help the people within your reach."*
Arjun knelt down next to Roshan, placing a hand on his head. **"Don't worry. We're going to get you the help you need,"** he said softly. Turning to his parents, he added, **"I'll take him to the hospital and cover all the expenses. Please don't worry about the money."**
Roshan's parents looked at him in disbelief, their eyes wide with gratitude. **"Arjun bhaiya, how can we ask that of you? You're a famous director; we're just ordinary people,"** his mother said, her voice trembling with emotion.
**"You're not asking,"** Arjun replied, his voice kind but firm. **"I know what it's like to feel helpless when someone you love is sick. I can't bring my father back, but I can help Roshan. Please, let me do this."**
Tears welled up in Roshan's mother's eyes as she nodded, her hands clasped tightly in silent gratitude. Roshan's father, his voice cracking, added, **"We can never repay you for this."**
**"There's no need to repay me,"** Arjun said as he stood. **"Just focus on Roshan getting better."**
### The Hospital Visit
Later that day, Arjun arranged for a car to take them all to a renowned hospital in the city. As they waited, Roshan clung to Arjun's arm, nervous but trusting. His parents sat beside them, their hands tightly clasped, a mix of fear and hope in their eyes.
The doctors examined Roshan thoroughly, running a series of tests to determine the extent of his condition. After hours of waiting, they delivered the diagnosis: Roshan had a congenital heart defect, something that could be corrected with surgery.
The surgery was costly, but Arjun signed the necessary forms without hesitation, agreeing to cover all expenses. As he did, a profound sense of peace washed over him. For the first time in a long while, he felt like he was doing something meaningful, something that truly honored his father's memory.
### A New Perspective
As they left the hospital, Roshan's parents couldn't stop thanking Arjun, their voices thick with emotion. **"You've saved our son's life, Arjun bhaiya,"** Roshan's father said, tears streaming down his face. **"We've always admired your films, but what you've done today... we will never forget."**
Arjun smiled, though his own emotions were swirling. **"I didn't do this for thanks,"** he said softly. **"I did it because Roshan deserves a chance at a healthy life."**
As they walked toward the car, Roshan tugged on Arjun's sleeve, looking up at him with wide, admiring eyes. **"Bhaiya, when I grow up, I want to be like you."**
Arjun chuckled and ruffled the boy's hair. **"Just focus on getting better, okay? The rest will come."**
But deep inside, Arjun felt a shift. His success with *Frames of Hope* had brought him fame and fortune, but this—helping Roshan—had given him a deeper fulfillment that no amount of box-office success could match. His father's words now resonated with new meaning.
He realized that while he couldn't change the whole world, he could make a world of difference in the lives of people around him. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.
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