Story- Chitra

A strong wind blew in through the big cracks of the wooden wall. The big black heavy clouds hovered about looking for the perfect spot to vent their fury.The trees danced in the wind celebrating the signs of a downpour.It was still warm and muggy inside.The candle refused to shed its light in the blowing wind.Ken was sitting on his bed enjoying the drama of nature.'Kennn.....'Granny called out.
'He woke up from his trance with a start ,hitting his head on a wooden plank which was nailed into the wall.'Ouch....' He cast an annoyed look at the plank and rubbed his head.' Yes..coming..'
Come here'
'I want to cook something special for you today.What do you want?'
He looked around..'What could she make.All that they ate every night was soup in which you'll have to fish out some vegetable pieces.The room smelt of old clothes as they were piled up in a corner,waiting to get washed.The shades of textures on the wall ,created by the moisture varied as the flame flickered from a small dying candle.The cobwebs glistened in the light. His only possession, a tattered soft toy Bunny laid on the floor,with a blank look on his face.
He looked up and smiled' I'd have soup,thats my all time favourite. '

He did not want to let her down by asking for things she could never get.

She squint her eyes and looked at him with a mischeivous smile.'Well,I suggest we have something else,I dont like soup as much as you do!!'She walked into the kitchen and smiled ' Come along boy!'
He followed her curiously like a cat.There he saw a table laid with a vase of beautiful white lillies.There was bread,caramel pudding,roast turkey,fruits,everything he could not even dream of having.An intoxicating smell of flowers creeped into the room along with the music of heavens spraying down the rain.
He was dazed. 'He looked at granny. "Is this for real,or am I dreaming?"
Her eyes gleamed with joy.
She closed her eyes and kissed him on the forehead.
'Why dont you have some cocoa dear? 'She poured him some hot cocoa in a ceramic cup.
'Granny,but...now.This is such a surprise.I cant believe this!'
'Its so hot and warm,I didnt even see you cooking!! And you went all the way downhill just to get all this for me and how did you even have the money?'
'Now thats too many questions.Will you please accept this treat that I have made for you!I love you and I wanted to do something special for you!'
'I love you too'
He sipped the cocoa
'Is it hot?Hot ?Hot? Hot?' She repeated.
'No,its warm and nice' He smiled
'You need some sugar?'
'Yeah,thanks'
Is it good?
'It is yummy.really yummy' He said as he gulped down the cocoa and prepared to start his main course.
They had a wonderful night together,as they chatted away about this and that ,relishing every bit of food.
'He knew this could not happen'He went to bed but couldn't get a wink of sleep.'How did she do all this for me?'She never gets out of the house,no one sees her in the village...We live on the money I make working on the fields.'How did she..?What a big surprise...'
He was tossing and turning in his bed when the wind caressed him with the intoxicating fragrance of flowers ,casting a spell upon him to sleep.

Cock-a-doodle doo,natures alarm woke him up early next morning.He looked outside expecting to see flowers in bloom,but all he saw were dry lonely trees looking at the sky pleading for some rain.'It didnt even look like it rained last night.Maybe the sun was too hot that it sucked up all the water.'He thought.

As he glanced along the walls,the red circle in the calendar caught his eye reminding it was her birthday a day after.He held his breath for a moment.He had to do something,the day has come!He put on his clothes and sped down the hill with as much ease as a mountain goat would display,to go to the local sunday market.
He got into the boat to cross the river.It was filled with tourists who had cameras and hats. Suddenly,he found a familiar face.It was the shopkeeper of the only grocery store in the valley.
'Hi uncle',he said
'How are you' 'How come you are on the boat?'
Oh,I have to get the new stock today from the market,been running out of things'
'Oh,did you see my Granny yesterday?She must have come.'
'No,It was closed yesterday.'
'Oh!..maybe she came before'
'No,not really...Or maybe yes,I dont know who she is'
'Anyway ,how is your Granny?'
'She is good.'
'Heard a lot about her,but haven't seen her,you should bring her downhill someday'
'I will' He smiled
'I wonder how she did this miracle,must have been well-planned'he thought.

'He went to the Sunday market and got her a peacock hair pin,with brilliant blue and green cloured gems. He wrapped it carefully with glitter paper and headed back home.
He thought he'd go to the graveyard and sit there for a while and go home late with a surprise at 12 am for his adorable grandmother.He had saved money for the past 6 months for this day.
He did not feel the emptiness in his heart of being an orphan in the graveyard.He felt his parents were around.As he entered,he saw his grandmom sitting there.He paced faster to her.
'Are you ok, Why are you sitting here?'
She looked back.
'It could only be you..why are you here? You should be home.'
'I know.but why are you here?'
'I was missing your mom and your grandpa.When I sit here I feel at home.'
She hugged him close' Look,do you see those two stars,that's your mom and the other one your grandfather.I'd be the third star to join them'
I wish the war did not happen.We'd all be together.'
'Well,things happen for a reason'
Her wrinkled hand covered his soft palm ,while the red stone on her ring lit up Kens face.
She kept stroking his palm for a while,for a long while.They spoke nothing.'Ken,you must go home.It is late. I want to stay here for a while .'
'Is something bothering you?'
'No.I am okay. I just want you to be happy. I stayed back all these years just to make sure you are safe.Now you are a man,you can stay on your feet even if the ground shakes below.That is my boy. '

'Oh Granny, you and your high opinions about me!!' haha..'

'Okay. See you soon.'

They waved at each other.

He wanted to take Granny with him,but he had to do his surprise thing too,so he let her stay there and went ahead.

As soon as Ken reached home,he started hunting for a place to keep the gift for her.'The bed?Under the pillow,umm..table?Kitchen..?...no the drawer 'he decided.
As he opened the drawer , a piece of paper flew away in the wind.He ran behind it and snatched it just before it flew out of the window.He rubbed the dust off from the old piece of paper.He held it with care as it was so old that it could crumble into bits and pieces .His eyes glanced through it.He saw his grandmas photo and below it was written...

"Obituary

Rosa Philip,74,passed away due to a minor heart attack in her house where she was living with her grandson, Ken.She was recovering from a stroke in her house.But unfortunately,this had to happen.She had been such a strong lady a heart that she managed to make a living even after she lost her family after the war.She died a day before her birthday.We hope her soul rests in peace...May god.."

He could read no more as his vision blurred.He felt dry in his throat and felt like his tongue was sinking in.He gulped a mouthful of water spilling it all over his shirt.He clutched the paper in his hand and ran to the graveyard.
She wasn't there.Her shining red stone ring was left behind.Pearls of sweat ran down his neck in the cold weather.He looked around and called out for her.There was a eerie silence.He could call no more.
He sat in the graveyard all night long,fully blank,only hearing the rattling of dry leaves in the wind and his own breath.