The Last Drop of Tear
A Short Story
He stood at the edge of the tallest building in the city, staring at the orange sun, which was setting in the back drop.The sky was orange-red in colour.He flung his educational certificates one by one into the air.They floated down like the leaves of some huge tree in the autumn.His eyes were filled with sadness and pain.He too wished that he could jump down that building.But he didn't have the courage to end his life in that way.Raghu was the only person in his village, who had done post graduation.His father, a farmer, had pledged his land for his only son's education, hoping that his future would be bright.Raghu had left the village some time back, with many dreams in his youthful eyes.
"Well,You've scored good marks," said the HR-Manager, of a company, looking at the certificates,"But unfortunately,these good marks alone don't get you the job.We need experienced guys, you see."
"But, Sir, How do you expect us to get experience unless people like you provide us with opportunites?" He asked.
"Are you trying to be smart?" He asked, annoyed at his question.
"No, Sir.Please provide me with an opportunity....I'll try my best...please.." He pleaded.
"Get lost!" He cried, throwing his file of certificates at him.
Wherever he went, he faced with only rejection.The money he had got was running short day by day.In the evenings, he used to sit and relax on the rocks near the sea-shore, staring at the blue sea and sky before him.He too was trying to go forward in his life, like the waves of the sea.But he felt he was pushed back like the receding waves.
He took up the job of a daily labourer at a construction site. He toiled hard from morning till evening.He did the work of loading and unloading crates from the trucks in the nights.He had to pay his room rent and also send some money to his home.So that his father could pay some interest for the loans taken long time back.They had disconnected the power in his room, as he had not cleared the electric bills for the last few months.He managed with candles.Anyway, he was used to the darkness.
"Somu, your son is bright.I am sure that he will have a bright future when he grows up." His school head-master had told his father once.
"Yes,Sir." His father replied."With your blessings."
"Let him study as much as he wants to.That is the only asset you can give him." He said."Sure,Sir." He said.
Raghu laughed at himself remembering that incident.He entered his room, bolted it from inside.He liked the darkness of his room, which seemed to over flow into his life too.He opened the cap of the bottle and drank the liquid from it.He threw the bottle down with force.It broke to many pieces as it touched the floor.Only the label remained; with the word 'Poison' printed on it.Now, his suffering was going to end.He had posted a letter to his parents seeking their forgiveness, this morning.
"Let me have some brightness for the last time, before I close my eyes forever." He said, lighting the candle with a match stick.
He saw an envelope near the door of his room.Who could have written to him? he thought.He started walking towards it.But it seemed to take him countless ages to reach it.He felt as though someone was holding him back with force.With one supreme effort, he leaped forward landing on the floor with a thud.The poison had started working inside him.Finally, his trembling fingers reached for the envelope on the floor and with great difficulty he tore open the envelope, pulled out the letter and unfolded it.
He couldn't believe what his eyes saw.It was an appointment letter from a reputed MNC.He had a tear of joy in his eye.
"I've got a job! I've got a job!" He cried, overjoyed, but his voice was chocked."I want to live....I want to live....I....want...to...live...."
The last drop of the tear from his eye fell down and landed on the letter, which he was firmly holding with his hand.The wind rushed in through the open window, blowing off the candle on the study table.The darkness took over once again.
The End.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Another Dream
A Short Story
Akash felt he was unlimited like the blue sky above him. He wanted to be famous cricketer. He loved playing cricket right from his childhood days. He played for his school and then for his college. Later he got selected for the Ranji trope too. He scored match-winning scores many times for his team. He dreamt of being part of the Indian cricket team. Many felt that he would even achieve that too. It seemed nothing could stop him from achieving his dream.
Unfortunately, he met with a freak accident and lost his left leg. He could never play cricket again in his life. Fate had spared his life, but killed his dream of being a world-class cricketer someday. His parents had died long time back in an accident. Since then his grandmother brought him up. "God, it would've been better if you'd killed me instead." He said looking at the blank wall before him in his room, with tears in his eyes. "What can I do now?" He asked.
He got no answer.He had no reason to live anymore. He would be a burden on his aging grandmother. She needed his support in this age. Not vice versa. He decided to kill himself. "This will be my last night on earth," He said to himself turning the bottle of sleeping pills in his hand, "But let me write a letter to grandmother." He searched for a blank paper in his table drawer and he found a newspaper cutting while searching. He took and glanced at it. It was a short story, which had appeared in the newspaper long time back in his childhood days.
He kept staring at it. He felt nice to see his name under the title of his short story. "Why don't I try this?" He asked himself, "Anyway, I can take my life later. Let me delay it and see."
He kept the bottle in the drawer. He took some blank papers and his pen. He started to think…..It was after a long time that he was writing something. But what to write? Suddenly he got an idea and started writing. He felt better after he finished it. He started typing it in his computer, saved it and searched for publishers in the search engine. He then attached his short story and sent it to those publishers around the world. After a few days later, he checked his email. He found many rejection emails from the publishers."Maybe I should take those pills tonight." He thought sadly opening the last email in his inbox.
It was from a famous publisher named 'Noble House' who had offices in New York, England, Paris, etc. They had liked his short story and offered to publish his collection of short stories and also offered a very good price for the same. Finally he had a smile on his face. He started writing short stories. When he had his collection ready, he sent it to them. Some days went by. One day a parcel arrived in his name from those publishers. He opened the cover excited. He saw some copies of his short stories in form of books, along with his cheque. The cover page was very attractive. He gave a copy to his grandmother and told her about it.
"I'm so happy for you, Akash." She said holding it, with tears in her eyes. "I'm sure that you'll become a world famous writer!" "Really, grandma?" He said, "Maybe with your blessings."
"Wait! I'll come." She said going inside."What is it, grandma?" He asked."This!" She said coming with an artificial leg " I want you to walk again." "Oh..thank you..grandma." He said attaching it. He got out of his wheel chair and tried to walk. He was about to fall. But she held him. He started walking slowly with her support and then by himself.
Sometime later, he got an email from his publishers saying that all the copies of his short stories were sold out. They are going for second edition. His book had topped the International best sellers list. His inbox was flooded with emails from his fans who had loved his short stories. The Times of India newspaper published an article on him. He gave interviews for various T.V. channels including CNN. Suddenly, he became a celebrity.
"Grandma, I'm very happy now." He said smiling at her."Didn't I tell you that you'll become world famous?" She asked.
"Yeah, you did." He said, hugging her "and your blessings really worked for me."
The End
A Short Story
Akash felt he was unlimited like the blue sky above him. He wanted to be famous cricketer. He loved playing cricket right from his childhood days. He played for his school and then for his college. Later he got selected for the Ranji trope too. He scored match-winning scores many times for his team. He dreamt of being part of the Indian cricket team. Many felt that he would even achieve that too. It seemed nothing could stop him from achieving his dream.
Unfortunately, he met with a freak accident and lost his left leg. He could never play cricket again in his life. Fate had spared his life, but killed his dream of being a world-class cricketer someday. His parents had died long time back in an accident. Since then his grandmother brought him up. "God, it would've been better if you'd killed me instead." He said looking at the blank wall before him in his room, with tears in his eyes. "What can I do now?" He asked.
He got no answer.He had no reason to live anymore. He would be a burden on his aging grandmother. She needed his support in this age. Not vice versa. He decided to kill himself. "This will be my last night on earth," He said to himself turning the bottle of sleeping pills in his hand, "But let me write a letter to grandmother." He searched for a blank paper in his table drawer and he found a newspaper cutting while searching. He took and glanced at it. It was a short story, which had appeared in the newspaper long time back in his childhood days.
He kept staring at it. He felt nice to see his name under the title of his short story. "Why don't I try this?" He asked himself, "Anyway, I can take my life later. Let me delay it and see."
He kept the bottle in the drawer. He took some blank papers and his pen. He started to think…..It was after a long time that he was writing something. But what to write? Suddenly he got an idea and started writing. He felt better after he finished it. He started typing it in his computer, saved it and searched for publishers in the search engine. He then attached his short story and sent it to those publishers around the world. After a few days later, he checked his email. He found many rejection emails from the publishers."Maybe I should take those pills tonight." He thought sadly opening the last email in his inbox.
It was from a famous publisher named 'Noble House' who had offices in New York, England, Paris, etc. They had liked his short story and offered to publish his collection of short stories and also offered a very good price for the same. Finally he had a smile on his face. He started writing short stories. When he had his collection ready, he sent it to them. Some days went by. One day a parcel arrived in his name from those publishers. He opened the cover excited. He saw some copies of his short stories in form of books, along with his cheque. The cover page was very attractive. He gave a copy to his grandmother and told her about it.
"I'm so happy for you, Akash." She said holding it, with tears in her eyes. "I'm sure that you'll become a world famous writer!" "Really, grandma?" He said, "Maybe with your blessings."
"Wait! I'll come." She said going inside."What is it, grandma?" He asked."This!" She said coming with an artificial leg " I want you to walk again." "Oh..thank you..grandma." He said attaching it. He got out of his wheel chair and tried to walk. He was about to fall. But she held him. He started walking slowly with her support and then by himself.
Sometime later, he got an email from his publishers saying that all the copies of his short stories were sold out. They are going for second edition. His book had topped the International best sellers list. His inbox was flooded with emails from his fans who had loved his short stories. The Times of India newspaper published an article on him. He gave interviews for various T.V. channels including CNN. Suddenly, he became a celebrity.
"Grandma, I'm very happy now." He said smiling at her."Didn't I tell you that you'll become world famous?" She asked.
"Yeah, you did." He said, hugging her "and your blessings really worked for me."
The End
The Frightening Solitude
A Short Story
“I want to die before you.” She said looking into his eyes. He didn’t answer her. His silence said it all. His solitude frightened him more than anything else in the world. His children were big now and their own kids to look after. The old age had caught up with him like the layers of dust on a light bulb, which blocked the light coming out from that old bulb. He had lived his life. His children gave him almost everything except the love, which he had given them in abundance when they were young.
“What’s the matter? Can’t you sleep?” She asked, “ Do you have pain?”
“No, I just can’t sleep.” He replied looking at her.
“Are you worried about what I told you this evening?” She asked.
“Yes..I’ve no one, but only you. Even if I loose you then what’s the point in living?” He asked.She started talking to him, but he was lost in his own thoughts. She was his only person who kept him away from his solitude. She used to talk about many things, which meant nothing. But he just listened to her…her voice. She would ask in the middle of the night, whether he was awake? If he answered her then she would start talking endlessly, and he would give signs now and then to say that he was listening. This tiny room was their world. He realised in the consuming loneliness of this crowded house. She was his only sound.
He was so dependent on her for almost everything in life. She brought him milk, food, newspaper, medicine and anything he wanted. Many times before he would ask for it. She understood him so well. She was the only wall between him and his frightening solitude. He also knew soon this wall may collapse and the solitude would sallow him like the waves of the greedy sea….he had infinite time to think about the memories of his life lived. But how long would he rewind and play the same cassette again and again in his mind.
“Tell me?” She asked.“Yes?” He said.“What would you do after I’m gone?” She asked.
“Why do you scare me like this?” He asked, “ I can’t live even a moment without you in this world and you know it too well.”
“Ha, you’re still romantic.” She teased him.“I will leave as soon as you leave.” He said.
“How? will you bribe death to take you along with me or what?” She asked.
“Wait and see, what I’ll do.” He replied.Next day night, he showed her a small bottle and it contained some liquid.
“What is it?” She asked him curiously.
“Poison!” He said smiling at her.
“Poison? Why do we need it? We don’t have any rats to kill in our room, do we?” She said.
“Stupid. It’s not for rats! It’s for me!”
“For you?” She asked shocked.
“Yes, I’m going to empty it down my throat as soon as you leave your body,” He told her.“ Now, let me see where you’ll go leaving me alone.”
“Don’t you want to live?” She asked.
“Live? What for?” He said. “Can I hug you?”
“Come on, don’t be romantic…that too in this age,” She teased him. “ Now..close your eyes and go to sleep.”
“O.k.” He said with a sigh.
Next day morning, the two daughter-in-laws giggled as they walked towards their room. Then:-
“You know, I wonder why he still needs her at this age…why can’t he leave her alone..” Said the first daughter-in-law knocking on the door.
There was no response.“Let’s open it!” said the second daughter-in-law pushing the doors forward. They saw them laying in each others arms.
“See how romantic they are in this age.” Giggled the first daughter-in-law.“Yes..what is that bottle?’ She said.
“Which bottle?” She asked.
“That bottle!” She said pointing her finger towards the empty bottle in the hand of the old lady.
The End
A Short Story
“I want to die before you.” She said looking into his eyes. He didn’t answer her. His silence said it all. His solitude frightened him more than anything else in the world. His children were big now and their own kids to look after. The old age had caught up with him like the layers of dust on a light bulb, which blocked the light coming out from that old bulb. He had lived his life. His children gave him almost everything except the love, which he had given them in abundance when they were young.
“What’s the matter? Can’t you sleep?” She asked, “ Do you have pain?”
“No, I just can’t sleep.” He replied looking at her.
“Are you worried about what I told you this evening?” She asked.
“Yes..I’ve no one, but only you. Even if I loose you then what’s the point in living?” He asked.She started talking to him, but he was lost in his own thoughts. She was his only person who kept him away from his solitude. She used to talk about many things, which meant nothing. But he just listened to her…her voice. She would ask in the middle of the night, whether he was awake? If he answered her then she would start talking endlessly, and he would give signs now and then to say that he was listening. This tiny room was their world. He realised in the consuming loneliness of this crowded house. She was his only sound.
He was so dependent on her for almost everything in life. She brought him milk, food, newspaper, medicine and anything he wanted. Many times before he would ask for it. She understood him so well. She was the only wall between him and his frightening solitude. He also knew soon this wall may collapse and the solitude would sallow him like the waves of the greedy sea….he had infinite time to think about the memories of his life lived. But how long would he rewind and play the same cassette again and again in his mind.
“Tell me?” She asked.“Yes?” He said.“What would you do after I’m gone?” She asked.
“Why do you scare me like this?” He asked, “ I can’t live even a moment without you in this world and you know it too well.”
“Ha, you’re still romantic.” She teased him.“I will leave as soon as you leave.” He said.
“How? will you bribe death to take you along with me or what?” She asked.
“Wait and see, what I’ll do.” He replied.Next day night, he showed her a small bottle and it contained some liquid.
“What is it?” She asked him curiously.
“Poison!” He said smiling at her.
“Poison? Why do we need it? We don’t have any rats to kill in our room, do we?” She said.
“Stupid. It’s not for rats! It’s for me!”
“For you?” She asked shocked.
“Yes, I’m going to empty it down my throat as soon as you leave your body,” He told her.“ Now, let me see where you’ll go leaving me alone.”
“Don’t you want to live?” She asked.
“Live? What for?” He said. “Can I hug you?”
“Come on, don’t be romantic…that too in this age,” She teased him. “ Now..close your eyes and go to sleep.”
“O.k.” He said with a sigh.
Next day morning, the two daughter-in-laws giggled as they walked towards their room. Then:-
“You know, I wonder why he still needs her at this age…why can’t he leave her alone..” Said the first daughter-in-law knocking on the door.
There was no response.“Let’s open it!” said the second daughter-in-law pushing the doors forward. They saw them laying in each others arms.
“See how romantic they are in this age.” Giggled the first daughter-in-law.“Yes..what is that bottle?’ She said.
“Which bottle?” She asked.
“That bottle!” She said pointing her finger towards the empty bottle in the hand of the old lady.
The End
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