short story

Valsamma finished her lunch and was trying to take a nap, she heard the sound Murmurs, whispering of kids, one or two suppressed giggles. she got up angrily,"oh those naughty kids from the village." they wont even let her take her nap peacefully. She was fed up with them. Every day when they thought she was sleeping they came to steal mangoes and guavas from her garden. She knew how to teach them a lesson. With the help of her stick she got up and went out, and started shouting at the boys and threatening them. This time the boys were strangers, probably from neighboring village. From this village or next all the boys were same, thieves all of them, she thought. When they saw her coming towards them, they all scattered and started running away, jumping the boundary wall. She stood near the gate shouting after them. Among them there was a small boy who was lagging behind, trying to catch others and simultaneously pulling his shorts up, so that it won't slide down.
Valsamma was well into her seventies, living alone in her ancestor's house. Both her sons were living abroad with their families. Though they telephoned once in a while, they were so busy that they couldn't spare time to visit her as often as they wanted to. For a few years they tried to persuade her to come and live with them, which, to her credit, she tried. She found that she couldn't adjust to their way of life."For gods sake they pay money for drinking water", she used to tell her friends, when she returned.she couldn't digest the fact that her daughters-in-law cut their hair for the lack of time. Valsamma decided that she was better off in her village by herself Though sometimes she used to feel lonely and her ears wanted to hear the sweet words" grandma".

Next day also she saw the boy, with a different set of boys this time. This went on for a few days.everyday eventhough the groups of boys changed, the small boy was always present little behind them, with his sweet smile, and chubby cheeks. After that the schools were reopened, and the village boys didn't have time for pranks. They all became busy in studies and homework. The small boy never stopped coming even then. Slowly he became a little bolder and started coming near her.Valsamma's attitude also changed towards him. Now when she shouted at him,there was no real anger in it. Nowadays she also postponed her afternoon nap and started waiting for him. Without knowing it,the ice around Valsamma's heart started melting.

He told his name was Samrat gosh.he lived with his parents in the next village.he-started calling her "grandma".They started sharing jokes and stories with each other. valsamma told him about her childhood, her youth,and marriage with grandpa. he shared his school stories with her. He filled the void in her life. she became more friendly and tolerant towards other people. she started sharing her fruits with her neighbors and village children. She lived her life again through Samrat. One day she got a call from her sons that they were coming to visit her soon. The whole night she couldn't sleep, she wanted to share this bit of good news with Samrat.Next day she told Samrat"beta my sons are coming here.Now you can play with my grandsons.This time they wont be bored here ". but valsamma thought he wasn't as happy as she expected him to be,at this bit of news."may be he is feeling insecure" she thought.she decided then n there that she wont show any difference between her grandsons and Samrat,her small friend. Next day he didn't come at his usual time. After that she never saw him. she became busy in the preparations of welcoming her family.Making the house comfortable for them,preparing all their favorite dishes etc. After the sons arrived with their families ,valsamma became so busy that she almost stopped thinking of Samrat.But there was always a bit of an empty space in her heart.

At last when she couldn't bear the worry she told her son all about Samrat. She pleaded with him to find Samrat and bring that boy home. Even after searching around the village and few neighboring villages no one could find the small boy of Sam rat's description. When they went to the place described by samrat they found only few bricks of a ruined house and a forest of weeds, and thorns. the next-door people said that they never saw anyone there, though they heard some rumors that a small family with an eight-year-old boy perished in the fire in that house few years back. And yes they remembered. That letters addressed to one Mr. gosh arrived once or twice after they shifted to this house. The next day valsamma decided to sell her house and accompany her sons to USA

 

thank you anu and crazywriter for your encouragement
regards