Aryan wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, feeling relieved after completing the heavy task assigned by the foreman on time. Along with his two friends, he walked to the side of the construction site to take a break. They sat by the building under construction, where they could find a little shade from the scorching midday sun.
Aryan's clothes were soaked in sweat, just like his two friends. Working as a construction laborer under the blazing sun was no easy task, and their bodies showed the evidence of the physical effort they had just put in. Aryan was still slightly out of breath, but he was grateful that at least they had finished their work without delay. After a brief moment of catching their breath, his two friends began opening their water bottles and pulling out their lunch from their bags.
Aryan watched with tired eyes as his friends enthusiastically drank and opened their lunch. He swallowed hard, realizing he hadn't brought anything to drink or eat. His stomach began to rumble, and the thirst in his throat grew more intense. Aryan felt foolish for forgetting to bring his lunch.
"Damn," Aryan muttered to himself. "That dream this morning really threw me off. I rushed straight to work without bringing anything."
He gave a bitter smile as his two friends glanced over at him. One of them, a man with a muscular build and skin darkened by the sun, drank from his bottle while raising an eyebrow at Aryan.
"Aryan, did you forget to bring your lunch?" asked the man, his tone concerned, as if already guessing the answer.
Aryan nodded with a bitter smile. "Yeah, I forgot. This morning was a mess," he replied, wiping the sweat from his neck.
His two friends exchanged looks, and without hesitation, they both rummaged through their bags and pulled out full water bottles. One of them then handed the bottle toward Aryan.
"Here, have a drink. You must be thirsty," the man said kindly, smiling warmly.
Aryan was momentarily surprised by his friend's kindness, but he didn't refuse the offer. Carefully, he took the water bottle being offered, feeling grateful for the gesture. His hands, still slightly trembling from exhaustion, grasped the bottle, and he began drinking the water slowly.
Aryan closed his eyes for a moment as the cold water flowed down his throat. The refreshing sensation seemed to wash away the dryness and thirst that had plagued him since earlier. Each sip of water brought a cooling relief, as if it was sweeping away the heat that had enveloped his body. He drank slowly, savoring every drop, conscious that this wasn't his own water. Once the bottle started to feel lighter, Aryan stopped drinking, sighed in relief, and handed the bottle back to his friend.
"Thank you," he said with a tired but sincere smile.
His friend nodded, saying nothing, only offering a small gesture with his hand that indicated it was no big deal. But their kindness didn't stop there. After closing his water bottle, one of his friends opened his lunchbox and looked at Aryan with understanding eyes.
"Hey, Aryan," he said while pouring some of his food into an empty container. "You forgot to bring your lunch too, didn't you? Here, take this, you must be hungry."
Aryan froze for a moment, not expecting his two friends to be so generous. He looked at them in disbelief, his heart warmed by the kindness shown by people who were essentially just his coworkers. Seeing how willing they were to share their food, Aryan felt deeply touched.
One of them patted him on the shoulder, startling Aryan. "You're still young, Aryan," said the man in a caring tone. "You need to take care of your body. At the very least, bring lunch when you go to work. Don't just show up empty-handed."
Aryan lowered his head, feeling both embarrassed and grateful. "Thank you," he responded softly, his eyes welling up. He nodded earnestly, feeling how this small gesture from his friends was like a breath of fresh air on a hot and tiring day.
With hands still slightly trembling from fatigue, Aryan accepted the food container offered to him. Inside, there was warm rice, a few pieces of vegetables, and a bit of meat. Aryan stared at the food for a moment, realizing that this was more than just a simple meal—it was a symbol of friendship and solidarity, something he rarely experienced in his difficult life.
Aryan began eating slowly. He scooped the rice into his mouth with gentle but quick movements, each grain of rice tasting delicious, far more than just ordinary food. The hunger that had been gnawing at him since the morning made every bite feel satisfying, but Aryan tried not to rush. He wanted to savor every mouthful, while also reflecting on how this simple kindness had lightened his burden, if only for a moment.
As he chewed slowly, Aryan realized that this food didn't just fill his stomach—it warmed his heart. When the first bite was finished, he felt a surge of energy returning to his body, replacing the exhaustion that had overtaken him earlier. Occasionally, he glanced at his two friends with deep gratitude, though words couldn't fully express how he felt.
Every subsequent bite felt more valuable to Aryan. The simple vegetables tasted fresher, and the bit of meat, though not much, felt like a luxurious feast. The noise of the construction machines and the hustle of the site faded into the background as he focused on the food in front of him. Each bite was an escape from the harsh reality of his life as a laborer.
When he was nearly finished with his meal, Aryan let out a long sigh, feeling content and grateful. He glanced at his two friends, who were also finishing their own lunches, and for the first time since starting work on this project, Aryan felt that he wasn't alone. They may have been just coworkers, but today, they had shown him that there was more than just a professional relationship between them—there was care, there was solidarity.
"Thank you, friends," Aryan said once again, his words sincere, feeling that this was the only way he could express the depth of his gratitude.
His two friends smiled, one of them simply nodding as he continued to eat, while the other patted Aryan on the shoulder again in a friendly manner.
"Don't worry about it, Aryan," said the man with a broad smile. "Tomorrow, make sure you bring your own lunch. But even if you forget again, we'll still share."
Aryan chuckled softly, though he was tired, his heart felt lighter. "I won't forget again," he promised himself. "But I'm glad to be working with you guys."
After lunch, Aryan sat quietly for a moment, allowing his stomach to digest properly before returning to work. His face, which had earlier looked weary, now seemed a little more refreshed, not just because of the food he had eaten, but also because of the new spirit that emerged from his friends' kindness. In that brief moment of silence, Aryan reflected on how life on this construction site might be tough and demanding, but small acts of kindness like this could make all of it more bearable.
When the break bell rang, Aryan stood up with his two friends, ready to continue their work. The construction project might not be finished yet, but Aryan felt that today would be a little easier to get through, thanks to the simple kindness he had received from his friends. And though his body was still tired, his heart felt stronger to face the days ahead.