Love for a Thirsty Soul
Savy lost her parents in a car accident when she was eight. Since that time, her grandfather had been her sole guardian.
As Savy grew up, she started to feel lonely. She often spoke to her mother’s photo frame and shed tears. She missed her mother.
Whenever she witnessed the mothers of her classmates embrace them, drop and pick them up from school, she would turn to the sky to find her parents among the stars.
It was 7th July, her birthday, but she was not excited. Like any other day, she went to school wearing her uniform. The day was bright, and Sunny.
Later in the evening, the sky turned purple like a bruise, followed by a flash of lightning. The clouds roared as if indulging in a fight and freaked her. For a moment, she felt the sky split into two.
The trees, leaves, and parched earth, all experienced a sense of respite from the glaring sun's beams. The shriveled flowers bloomed again. Everyone seemed happy except her.
Her knee-length blue-checked uniform swayed in the breeze as she walked to find an alternative mode of transport. A drizzle soon turned to pelting rain, and within no time, she got soaked by the large raindrops.
She dodged the puddles, crossed the road, and took shelter. The pain from her heart oozed through her eyes, and the warm tears touched her skin. Stretching her palms, she collected the droplets of water that gently fell and splashed on her face and stood there, watching the butterflies cling to the undersides of leaves.
“A car screeched to a halt. Hey Savy, what are you doing here? Come, get in the car,” Bela, Savy’s friend's mother, said and unlocked the door.
“Hello, Aunty. I missed my school van.” Savy answered.
“Today is your birthday, right? Happy birthday dear. What special at home?” Bela inquired.
“Nothing Aunty. I haven't celebrated my birthday in the past couple of years. I detest this day and season even more because I lost my parents on this day. It was pouring. My parents went out to get me my birthday gift.
My mom was on the steering wheel. Suddenly a speeding truck came from nowhere, and she tried to hit the break. But the car skidded on the damp roadway and hit the divider. Both died on the spot.” Savy said in a hoarse voice, tears streaming down.
"Savy, promise me, you will never cry henceforth. You can share everything with me. Treat me like your mother,” Bela brushed away her tears and showered love on her thirsty soul.
Savy gave Bela a firm embrace. Her inner restlessness gave way to contentment. She was overwhelmed with gratitude.
On reaching home, she tossed her school bag on the bed. Sounds from outside and within were drowned by a torrent of water that thrashed against her house's roof. She emerged and joined the other children who were playing in the puddle and enjoying the heavenly aroma of nature.
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