Family Short Story – Atom Heart Mother
Photo credit: OldGreySeaWolf from morguefile.com
“Mumma, i need a bat!!”, li’l Arun remarked. Arun was a class 8 student for whom playing was the heart of life. A great fan of Sachin Tendulkar, trying to copy his shot styles and a motive in his mind to become a great cricketer too. His mother had registered him with a cricket camp in his locality. ” Mumma, i really need a bat!”, Arun cried out.
“Stop screaming Arun, I have a hell lotta work to do”, his mother exclaimed.
Arun lived with his mother at the corner of the town since his daddy’s demise. His daddy was a Major at the Army, for whom bullets and reputation were the same.
The whole town knew about his dad, and how he was shot down by the enemy cavalry from point blank range. People respected him a lot and thus they thought of putting a friendly match between the local teams in his honour.
“Arun, why would you need a bat? It’s been just a month since you got a new bat on your birthday!”, his mom recalled.
“But ma, I need a new bat because the old one has started withering”, Arun pleaded.
“Listen Arun, we are not that high-class family anymore and its tough for me to earn a day’s wage.”, his mother replied.
Arun was perplexed because the match was knocking at the door and the most important thing was that Sachin was coming as a Guest of Honor to watch the match. Everybody in the area was cheerful, happy and were waiting for the day to come. Arun, on the other hand was morosed, closed the door with a bang and went out to the field.
“Papa, i need a new bat !”,Arun tearingly recalled within himself. His daddy was an important person in Arun’s life. Anything that Arun wanted as a kid had always been fulfilled by his dad. He was a HERO and the GENIE in his son’s life.
But it’s been 3 years now that his HERO was gone. Arun always felt his dad inside him. It was because of his mother who used to tell Arun that his dad is within him. The day was arriving and Arun literally felt heart-broken.
The day finally came. People were yelling, jumping and clapping as the Cricket Maestro entered the field. Arun’s mother was given a seat beside Sachin’s as it was a match of honour in fond memory of her dead husband. But Arun was nowhere to be seen. Arun’s mother was a li’l tensed since she could not find her son, even knowing that the idol of his dreams would be present.
“Sir, My son is a huge fan of yours and is always looking forward to meet you!”, Arun’s mother remarked while shaking hands with the Legend.
“So Ma’m, where’s your son?” was Sachin’s reply.
“I dont know. Even I had been looking for him for quite a long time” Arun’s mom quoted.
“Anyway, here’s an autograph for him and tell him that even I am looking forward to meet my li’l fan” Sachin said and left the field by handing a piece of paper to Arun’s mother. She opened the paper and was happy for the fact that Sachin himself has signed an autograph for her son.
After the end of the match Arun’s mom returned home. She went inside and called Arun a couple of times, but no answer. Now this time she was really tensed about where her son was. She swiftly went towards Arun’s room and found that it was locked from inside. She banged and banged at the door but there was no answer. Her screaming and crying made her neighbours feel concerned. Within a few seconds, people dashed in her house and broke down the door of Arun’s room.
The next scene was tragic. Arun had hung himself from the ceiling fan and was swinging like skittles swinging in the air. People quickly loosened the knot, but alas Arun was way dead. His mother cried profusely and found a piece of paper on his study desk.
It read ,”Dear mumma, I tried to tell you that i badly needed a bat, not to play with it but to have Sachin’s autograph on it. I had been looking forward for this day, but since it was difficult for you to afford one so I asked dad. Yesterday, dad came in my dreams and said that he has a bat ready for me. So i am going to papa. Dont worry, I would be fine there. Dad would look after me well. You be happy and good. Love you mom. Take care. Your Good Son, Arun”.
Arun’s mom fainted thereafter.
__END__
