Friday, October 30, 2015

Wishful - A Short Story

Shruti, seated comfortably in the back seat of a City-Honda car, was on her way to school. Palani, the driver, was steering the car at an optimum speed.

Shruti was in the habit of talking her thoughts out loud. Not always, but now and then. Was is it to boost her confidence? Or to practice her pronunciation? Or was it a trait of perfect planner? Only God knows.

Palani and everyone, were used to these self-talks of Shruti...and here it went on like this....

"I need to return the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban book to Rani. Did I place the physics notes back in my school bag, otherwise Chandrika miss will think that I am giving an excuse of not doing the homework. Which, by the way, I have actually completed it. Let me check...... Yes, it is there. I need to work hard, next year I will be in 7th standard."

Shruti called her driver, "Palani!"

Thats the cue for Palani to listen and respond.

"Yes, Shruti baby" (that's how everyone addresses Shruti.)

Shruti continued, "Today, while returning home we need to drop by Nuts and Spices shop near Madhya Kailash to purchase Cadbury Dairy Milk Silk chocolates."

Palani responded, "Yes, Shruti baby"

Again Shruti was on Self-talk mode.

"At least three boxes. Two for my classmates and one box for my teachers. I have asked my parents for a  bicycle, and a collection of Sudha Murthy books for my birthday tomorrow."

Palani resumes his concentration back on his driving.

Shruti continued her monologue. "Rani said that every year on her birthday, their parents would take leave and spend the entire day with her. How lovely? God! Please grant me a wish. And my wish is, on my birthday my parents should be beside me the whole day."

She let out a sigh of despair and continued, "Throughout my life, more than my parents, I would have spoken a lot to: Palani, on my way to school and back home, in the car; my nanny, Jayanthi - she takes care of me very well; Rani - my only best friend; and to my grandparents over phone on Sundays."

"I wish mom and dad would spend more time with me. Who are always busy not only during weekdays, but also on weekends meeting/inviting friends our home or attending parties. I wish, I too had been born into a normal middle class family like Rani. How lucky she is?"

Suddenly the car's wheels screeched. The car took a steep turn, slided sidewards a little leaving black tyre marks on the greyish road, and halted. All of these happened in a fraction of seconds.

After a break, now Shruti's inner conversation continued...

"Its all dark. I am trying to open my eyes, but I am not able to. I don't know why? Finally I was able to half open my eyes and could see blurred vision. Suddenly I saw my parents beside me happily celebrating my birthday. Wait! When did I come of the car? Where am I? Am I conscious or dreaming? Its so confusing?"

"With a sharp pain in my elbow, I fully opened my eyes and found my parents for REAL sitting on my either side, so near and close to me. The moment they realized that I opened my eyes, my mother partly hugged me, because I was lying on a bed. Then my father came near and kissed me on my forehead and composedly said, "Happy Birthday Dear Baby".

"Whoopee! Today is my birthday!!!"

"Later I realized that I was in a hospital. It was cold. Mom told me that some lunatic two wheeler guy suddenly came in front of our car. Palani meticulously and quickly turned the car's steering in other direction. The car is safe, the lunatic guy is safe. When the car took a steep turn, I completely fell to one-side, my elbow got hit to the inside of the car door, and I lost consciousness."

"It's a minor fracture. Dad told me that it will take 5-7 days for the bones to set. In the meantime, I get to bond and spend more time with my parents.

My dad showed me his iPhone which now displayed a snap of my new bicycle parked at my home. In the afternoon, I asked my mom to read me a chapter from the latest Sudha Murthy's book. Rani came along with her dad and wished me.Though it was a hospital, in the evening I had the cake cutting. My dad made arrangements and distributed sweets and chocolates to the entire hospital. Grandparents wished me over phone. My teachers too called and wished me."

"Most importantly, my parents, all day stayed with me. Thanks God! My wish is now fulfilled" :-)



Image source - www.weheartit.com/entry/25834617