A Short Story - The Little One
The Little One
By Dr.S.Padmapriya
Years ago, there lived an adorable little girl, who had the heart of gold. Being kind-hearted and warmth-exuding, she spread a wee little bit of sunshine wherever she went.
Preetha was in Grade One. Her best friend was Sai, who herself did not know that she was Preetha’s best friend. The reason behind this one-sided friendship was that Preetha loved Sai but had never had the courage to tell that to Sai. Preetha was quite ordinary looking and dull in studies. On the other hand, Sai was very good in mathematics, a subject in which she herself was just about average. Preetha pined for Sai often and wanted to announce her friendship with Sai but she was very shy. Preetha’s little mind could never convince her that Sai, the genius in maths could ever be her friend. Preetha was not particularly good in anything and was certain that her other classmates would consider it audacious if she would try to strike a good friendship with the class genius. So, Preetha pined silently for friendship with Sai never ever telling her about her desire to be friends with her. Thus, the two remained in the same class for two years. Preetha was going to be seven soon.
One day, her parents announced that they would be moving away to another country soon. Preetha was disconsolate. She could not imagine, living away from her best friend. She wanted to be friends, forever with Sai. She was miserable and decided that she would not go with her parents to live abroad. Her elder brother, using the knowledge of his years, captivated little Preetha and convinced her that she must leave the country with them because they would soon go to a magical world full of fountains of chocolate, rivers of fruit juice, talking robots and a bewildering range of animals. The little girl with her limited knowledge and wild imagination believed every word that her elder brother said and was soon on the flight to the neighbouring country. It was much later that she found out that nothing hat her brother had said was real. The only reality that she now faced was that she was not going to ever be able to see Sai.
In the meantime, Sai had gone to the Andaman Islands because her father, a geologist had got a job there. Meanwhile, our little girl could never forget Sai. In the new country, she would cry herself to sleep every night, thinking about her friend. She remembered those beautiful dimples, fair glossy face and the smile of a star! She would have given anything to be like Sai – intelligent, good and beautiful. How Preetha yearned to be like her! Time ran fast. Three years passed quickly and Preetha’s father’s tenure in East Pakistan had ended. During the fourth year of their stay abroad, Preetha’s family travelled to their home country.
As Preetha sat in the Calcutta airport with her parents waiting for the connecting flight to Chennai, she saw a girl, who looked just like Sai. Sai was accompanied by a girl, who looked just like Sai’s elder sister. Preetha’s heart seemed to stop for a moment. She wanted to get as close to Sai as quickly as possible but as most children are, Preetha was very dependent on her parents and wanted to seek their approval to speak to Sai. Preetha wanted permission from her mother to go to meet Sai. Her mother did not give her any direct permission. Her mother had her own problems to think about and she was scarcely interested in the feelings of her nine year old daughter. How Preetha yearned for guidance and support from her mother but her parents were not much concerned about their daughter’s inner turmoil. Preetha sat making elaborate plans in her mind to meet Sai. She started thinking that she could go strolling near Sai, drop her handkerchief near her and then, Sai would pick it up and then Preetha would ask her something like, “Do you remember me? I was your classmate, Preetha.” She would finally muster the guts to tell Sai how much she valued her. She would tell Sai as to how much she had missed her, how much she had needed her and how desperately she had sought her friendship!
As Preetha rehearsed her acting sequence, she did not notice that the Sai’s family had already left to catch their connecting flight to Delhi. When Preetha looked up from her reverie, everything had ended for her. This was the second time that she had failed in this game of friendship and all because she didn’t have the guts to go and speak with another human being!
Her Sai was not there. Sai had gone away. Her Sai! Preetha’s little heart broke into a thousand pieces. The little girl had tears in her eyes. It was not childish tears. They were real tears. Her pain was real. Her loss was real even if she was a little girl - even if no one understood her!
There are many tears and fears. There are many Preethas in this world, who are seldom understood and often dismissed.
By Dr.S.Padmapriya
Years ago, there lived an adorable little girl, who had the heart of gold. Being kind-hearted and warmth-exuding, she spread a wee little bit of sunshine wherever she went.
Preetha was in Grade One. Her best friend was Sai, who herself did not know that she was Preetha’s best friend. The reason behind this one-sided friendship was that Preetha loved Sai but had never had the courage to tell that to Sai. Preetha was quite ordinary looking and dull in studies. On the other hand, Sai was very good in mathematics, a subject in which she herself was just about average. Preetha pined for Sai often and wanted to announce her friendship with Sai but she was very shy. Preetha’s little mind could never convince her that Sai, the genius in maths could ever be her friend. Preetha was not particularly good in anything and was certain that her other classmates would consider it audacious if she would try to strike a good friendship with the class genius. So, Preetha pined silently for friendship with Sai never ever telling her about her desire to be friends with her. Thus, the two remained in the same class for two years. Preetha was going to be seven soon.
One day, her parents announced that they would be moving away to another country soon. Preetha was disconsolate. She could not imagine, living away from her best friend. She wanted to be friends, forever with Sai. She was miserable and decided that she would not go with her parents to live abroad. Her elder brother, using the knowledge of his years, captivated little Preetha and convinced her that she must leave the country with them because they would soon go to a magical world full of fountains of chocolate, rivers of fruit juice, talking robots and a bewildering range of animals. The little girl with her limited knowledge and wild imagination believed every word that her elder brother said and was soon on the flight to the neighbouring country. It was much later that she found out that nothing hat her brother had said was real. The only reality that she now faced was that she was not going to ever be able to see Sai.
In the meantime, Sai had gone to the Andaman Islands because her father, a geologist had got a job there. Meanwhile, our little girl could never forget Sai. In the new country, she would cry herself to sleep every night, thinking about her friend. She remembered those beautiful dimples, fair glossy face and the smile of a star! She would have given anything to be like Sai – intelligent, good and beautiful. How Preetha yearned to be like her! Time ran fast. Three years passed quickly and Preetha’s father’s tenure in East Pakistan had ended. During the fourth year of their stay abroad, Preetha’s family travelled to their home country.
As Preetha sat in the Calcutta airport with her parents waiting for the connecting flight to Chennai, she saw a girl, who looked just like Sai. Sai was accompanied by a girl, who looked just like Sai’s elder sister. Preetha’s heart seemed to stop for a moment. She wanted to get as close to Sai as quickly as possible but as most children are, Preetha was very dependent on her parents and wanted to seek their approval to speak to Sai. Preetha wanted permission from her mother to go to meet Sai. Her mother did not give her any direct permission. Her mother had her own problems to think about and she was scarcely interested in the feelings of her nine year old daughter. How Preetha yearned for guidance and support from her mother but her parents were not much concerned about their daughter’s inner turmoil. Preetha sat making elaborate plans in her mind to meet Sai. She started thinking that she could go strolling near Sai, drop her handkerchief near her and then, Sai would pick it up and then Preetha would ask her something like, “Do you remember me? I was your classmate, Preetha.” She would finally muster the guts to tell Sai how much she valued her. She would tell Sai as to how much she had missed her, how much she had needed her and how desperately she had sought her friendship!
As Preetha rehearsed her acting sequence, she did not notice that the Sai’s family had already left to catch their connecting flight to Delhi. When Preetha looked up from her reverie, everything had ended for her. This was the second time that she had failed in this game of friendship and all because she didn’t have the guts to go and speak with another human being!
Her Sai was not there. Sai had gone away. Her Sai! Preetha’s little heart broke into a thousand pieces. The little girl had tears in her eyes. It was not childish tears. They were real tears. Her pain was real. Her loss was real even if she was a little girl - even if no one understood her!
There are many tears and fears. There are many Preethas in this world, who are seldom understood and often dismissed.
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