Tuesday 6 December 2011

Her Brothers Keeper

She stood shivering, the cold wind blowing around her,adding to her miseries. A small cold hand gripped hers tighter, making her realise she had to hurry and find him. Considering that she herself was only twelve, that the year was 1920, that she was standing on the railway station with her little sister and no adult with her, she was a very brave girl indeed.That or she was very desperate. Living in the small town like village where almost everyone knew everyone, coming from a highly respected family,her mind benumbed with the repercussions should someone recognise her, she stared at the waiting train. A whistle sounded somewhere, the sound of which galvanised her. She ran to the train and started hunting frantically. too small to reach thee windows , she shouted out his name. Over and over again. Running onwards and forwards, she called, the tears streaming down her faceFell on the other little face below hers. The little one crying softly herself, wiped them and added her voice to her sister's.

Then all of a sudden there he was standing shame facedly before her, stunned that she had actually come looking for him. Her face lighting up with joy, radiant with relief, she clutched him to her
protectively, the three siblings stood arms wrapped around each other, as the train thundered away, picking up momentum as it raced off into the dusk.

The ashen faced man standing near the entrance had seen it all, the tableux enacted in front of his eyes, as he entered the station:the scream of the little girl, the boy sitting in the window, looking up when he heard it, and leaping off the train at the last minute.

Back home, together they confronted the step mother, whose corporal punishment had driven the rebel to run. The sister in the absence of her father, had donned the mantle and knowing her brother, had raced after him, determined to either fetch him back or join him.

Two days had gone by, they were back at the station. This time it was the excitement that was palpable, bringing happy smiles to the little faces. They were headed for a new life to Mumbai.
Together.

1 comment:

  1. brilliant piece..lot of expression of emotions through words..like it a lot..

    ReplyDelete