Anand Part – I

Anand was batting on 47 for 14 balls. The opposition team was trying everything to get him out as he was just taking the match away from them. He went on scoring runs and eventually got his team home. Everyone was happy and cheering him. He was unmoved by all these accolades. For him, this was just another day. He was an all rounder. He was a happy go lucky kid and loved by everyone. He used to live in his own world..where he was a superhero. A superhero who loved to save stray dogs. All the strays in his area were his friends. They used to follow him to school and back home. He was a famous boy.

One hot summer day, he was playing outside all by himself. He was practicing his straight drive by hitting the ball against the wall with his bat. Suddenly, his mom screamed inside the house. He ran towards the house and saw his unconscious mother in the kitchen. She was holding the phone in one hand and was silent. He quickly sprinkled some water on her face and woke her up. She woke up and started crying. He asked hysterically, “What happened, Ma??“. His mom gave her the phone and he read the message. His father died in a gun battle with terrorists in Kashmir. He hugged his mother and both started crying. The neighbors heard their cries and came rushing in. They too heard the news and felt helpless. They tried to console and calm them. This was the worst day for Anand. He kept crying that whole day and night. Relatives started pouring in their house and showed sympathy towards him.

Next morning, his father’s body arrived. His tears were already dried up. He was looking at the coffin as a stone. His mom was also quiet. They both were in the shock state and still couldn’t believe the reality . Anand recalled his last meeting with his dad…..it was like a movie running in his mind. His father asked him, “What will you become, when you grow older“. Anand said, “I will become a millionaire“. His father laughed and asked, “But, how will you become a millionaire? Are you going to get some treasure?“. His father took a pause to laugh and continued, “You have to earn it. You need to do something to become a millionaire“. Anand with full excitement replied, “That’s simple….I will open an office and become a millionaire“.  

“Move son”, someone from the crowd pushed Anand towards his father’s coffin. Dressed in his army uniform, his father was lying in the coffin as if he was in a deep sleep. Anand looked at his father’s face and smiled. He bent towards him, placed his head over his father’s chest and said, “Wake up Papa!! Why are you sleeping like this? Let’s go inside the house“. Everyone around him couldn’t hold their tears. Anand’s uncle asked him to get up and touch his father’s feet. He said “No, I won’t touch his feet. Papa always say, don’t touch feet of someone who is lying“. Few relatives took him inside the house and started preparing for his father’s last journey.

Anand still in shock, was trying to follow orders from his elders…….

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