Monday, February 16, 2009

The final wish


Varsha was a lonely child. Having lost her mother at birth, she had an uncaring, often cruel father, and a brother who was engrossed in his own teenage world. The eight-year –old girl was left to spend her time at home all alone. Moreover, not having known motherly love and starving to hear a kindly word from her father, Varsha often wept to herself.

One day, in their neighbourhood, a new family came and Varsha got a playmate in their daughter Tina. Tina’s mother, Mrs. Pathak was very affectionate towards Varsha and often, Varsha stayed for lunch at their place. However, it was Mr. Pathak, who soon became Varsha’s favourite. In him, the girl had found the father she had always hoped her biological father had been to her.

Mr. Pathak encouraged Varsha about her studies. When in school, she got an award for best creative-writing, the first person she told about it was Mr. Pathak. If she thought about an ideal family, she would picture in her mind the Pathaks. Even though Varsha was extremely fond of both Tina and her mother, it was Mr. Pathak who she adored. The kindly man had filled up a vacuum in her heart.

Varsha had fever every now and then. When she gathered courage to tell her father one day, after feeling nauseated, she was told that she was a weakling, and thus a pain to him. The matter ended there with Varsha not receiving any medical attention.

Time moves on and soon it was over a year that the Pathaks had moved in as Varsha’s neighbours. One day, she heard Tina and her mother crying loudly and rushed into the Pathaks’ house to find out what the matter was. Through tears in her eyes, Tina told her that Mr. Pathak had left his home and family in search of solitude and spirituality. Mrs. Pathak was inconsolable.

Varsha felt cheated. She had never thought the she would be deprived of Mr. Pathak’s fatherly affection. In her own innocence, she had trusted him emotionally.

Two months later, in a pleasant February morning, Varsha woke up with excruciating pain all over her body. She called out for help, but there was no one to hear her cries. Then she called out to Krishna for help. As gradually, her pain subsided, she could hear a soothing tune being played on flute. As she closed her eyes, Krishna appeared to her and asked her what she wanted. She was filled with peace and joy and answered that she wanted to play in His gardens and have Mr. Pathak as her father.

When a bearer came with breakfast into her room after an hour, it was discovered that Varsha would not open her eyes in this world again.

14 comments:

Aseem Kaistha said...

Fantastic post Ayesha ji... I am taking the liberty of posting this to some groups on Yahoo... Please forgive me for the impatience...

Regards
Aseem

Ayesha Parveen said...

Thank you Aseem Ji. God bless all.

Shravan RN said...

touching ayesha.. loved reading iy, but sorry to say, the ending didnt come up to the mark.. it felt as if you wanted it to finish in no time.. "When a bearer came with breakfast into her room after an hour, it was discovered that Varsha would not open her eyes in this world again. " -too simple..

Ayesha Parveen said...

Hi Shravan, thank you for your comment. Perhaps, the hurry you mention in the story-line actually shows how impatient Varsha had become about discarding her painful life. It is through simple, day-to-day happenings, that often the bigger truth about life is revealed. Best wishes :)

A New Beginning said...

simply mesmerising, purre Ayesha style:)

Ayesha Parveen said...

Thanks Sana. Have a nice day :)

Whirlwind said...

A beautiful story indeed!!!Sometimes its better to shut your eyes forever than experience pain beyond ones endurance. Its the start of a spiritual journey in its own way as it ends any kind of anguish. Wonderfully written.

Ayesha Parveen said...

Thank you Swetha for your highly appreciative comment. You are right in saying that a truly spiritual journey ultimately ends all pain. Best wishes :)

ajay.rao said...

Hi Ayesha,

Some how I dont agree with the end. I personally feel thet There is no point in praising God when one dont knoe how to live the life God has given. Mr. Pathak is nothing but an escapist. I really dont want any one to Ideolize this person. The little girl would have lived and succeded.
I'm sure lord Krishna will agree with me.

Ayesha Parveen said...

Hi Ajay,

Thanks a lot for your detailed comment. I wanted to show how hurt the little girl was when Mr. Pathak left. Sometimes, a broken-heart can hasten death.

Best wishes,
Ayesha

Ravi Kodukula said...

Ayesha.

While the end could have been anything else, but it is the journey of Varsha's life that you have beautifully described... her losing and finding and again losing a father... the trust that she places in the relationship with Mr. Pathak... and her own grief as a child at the loss, compared to the inconsolable Mrs. Pathak... and of course her solace in Krishna...

By the flow of the story, I had expected her to have recalled Mr. Pathak in her pain, instead of Krishna... or as you may say, Mr. Pathak in the guise of Krishna... with the flute et al... or would that have been too typical of an end?

I have read a few other posts on your spot, but this touched me the most...

Keep writing!

Ayesha Parveen said...

Hi Ravi,

Thank you very much for visiting my blog and appreciating my writing. I brough Krishna at the end of the story to show that after having suffered so much pain in life, she gets salvation in death. An appearance of Krishna at the final moment of a person's life is a guarantee of salvation for that soul.

Best wishes and thank you once again.

Ayesha

Manivannan Sadasivam said...

A deeply touching post Ayesha. You've beautifully written it. And the ending is very significant. Because it is not that easy to think of Krishna at the time death. That shows varsha's love & longing is true.

Also, you've beautifully sent across a message that even when the person we love forsakes us, like Pathak did to varsha, God will accept and liberate us if alone our love is true and sincere.

That's wonderful!

Ayesha Parveen said...

Hi Manivannan,

Thank you so much for appreciting my story so much. You have analized it wonderfully, just the way I wanted.

Thank you once again and have a nice day.

:) Ayesha