Once upon a time in a small town like yours, there lived an old man. He led a lonely life, confining himself within the four walls of his room. Every morning as he would open the windows in his living room, he would see a little child in the neighboring house play around gleefully in the compound. Her voice was sweet; she was a little girl with three lilies in her hands and seven stars in her head, a lovely little angel, so thought the old man. Through the open window in his room, he would watch her play and listen her sing. He would wave at her whenever he saw her out in the compound, and she would wave back at him with a large smile flashing across her face. He loved her immensely and included her in his daily prayers. The relationship gave the lonely old man true joy though they didn't know much about each other.
One fine day, the he popped out of his home and offered the little girl few sweets as he saw her stroll around amicably in the garden. He had been looking forward to give her those since long but never had an opportunity till then.
"These candies are for you, my dear. You'll enjoy its sweetness"
"What is sweetness? I'll take it only if I know beforehand what it is!" said the little girl, keeping her eyes on his face.
"Taste it, little one, and you'll experience sweetness", said the old man, nonplussed, not knowing how to explain it to the little child.
"How can I taste it unless you prove its sweetness? I don't even know you well, so prove it to me first!" said the little girl, showing off her little teeth as she laughed out loud.
Indeed, she didn't know him well enough.
She is right and logical, so felt the old man, and a drop of tear out of one eye rolled down his cheek. Yes, he was still a stranger despite his love for her.
"Why are you crying?" asked the little girl, furrowing her small brow.
"These are tears of love, my dear"
"What is love?" asked the little angel, the smile still on her face.
-Balu
One fine day, the he popped out of his home and offered the little girl few sweets as he saw her stroll around amicably in the garden. He had been looking forward to give her those since long but never had an opportunity till then.
"These candies are for you, my dear. You'll enjoy its sweetness"
"What is sweetness? I'll take it only if I know beforehand what it is!" said the little girl, keeping her eyes on his face.
"Taste it, little one, and you'll experience sweetness", said the old man, nonplussed, not knowing how to explain it to the little child.
"How can I taste it unless you prove its sweetness? I don't even know you well, so prove it to me first!" said the little girl, showing off her little teeth as she laughed out loud.
Indeed, she didn't know him well enough.
She is right and logical, so felt the old man, and a drop of tear out of one eye rolled down his cheek. Yes, he was still a stranger despite his love for her.
"Why are you crying?" asked the little girl, furrowing her small brow.
"These are tears of love, my dear"
"What is love?" asked the little angel, the smile still on her face.
-Balu
9 comments:
Lovely!!And I am so surprised at the starting--you know why--atul wrote EXACTLY the same line (Once upon a time, In a city just like yours....) a few weeks back for a story that he had to write as an assignment--such a strange coincidence right?
I loved this story that you wrote--the irony and the depth--you have managed to capture both well.
Thanks PS for those kind words:)
if we dont love ourselves how can we truly love others:)
Unpretentious,
This has got nothing to do with self love. The girl in the story fails to realise the old man's love. The act of offering her sweets was done to express his love towards her, which was taken in ill part by the little angel :)
very beautiful, and a tad sad too. sometimes, we just don't realise the love others have for us, for good or for bad.
did he lead a lonely life because he was confined?
Lovely and poignant! The girl's innocence comes out in her questions...thats childhood..soemtimes you feel they know so much but then there are times when you are put through a whole lot of questions just making us wonder.
Dharmabum, true - at times we don't realise the love and affection others have for us :)
Prats, when you say the girl's innocence comes out in her questions, I couldn't agree with you more :)
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