No, Son, believe me, I'm not, said Sameer earnestly. His heart sank, realizing his son had difficulty accepting his childhood experiences. He says, " As a child, I spent endless nights on my ancestral house terrace, sleeping and gazing at the sky of silvery stars. After school, our daily ritual was climbing the grooves of green trees, playing for hours in the cool breeze, and swimming in.....Before he could tell more, he was interrupted by little Samar.
"Hey, Dad, we can't even sit outdoors for a few minutes here, and you're talking about endless nights on the terrace. His innocent eyes filled in disbelief as he continuously scratched his arms, full of mosquito bites. His little fingers then pointed up in the sky, and he skeptically commented.
"And, where are those galaxies of shining stars? What I see are only a few faintly twinkling stars". Sameer took a long, sad pause. He found himself struggling with the words to convince his child that his tales of childhood were not fiction stories. He mutters, "I don't blame you, my son. In today's world, very few traces of it are left in urban clusters." He sighed and then wished he could turn back the hands of time to show his son the beauty of Nature he had experienced as a child.
While he was engrossed in his thoughts, his wife, Neena, joined them and asked Samar to go inside the house. She warns, "Samar, these dusty, polluted winds can aggravate your asthma attack." Samar obediently gets up, but while going inside, his innocent eyes seem to ask Sameer, " Where is that pristine air that you enjoyed as a child?"
Samar's questions kept echoing in Sameer's mind for a long time. He then considered visiting his ancestral hometown, which he had not visited for over a decade. He hoped to show the traces of his childhood to his son. But as they arrived at the Village, Sameer was taken aback.
Denne historien er fra May 2024-utgaven av Storizen.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra May 2024-utgaven av Storizen.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
You Are A Trip
A step forward, is a journey inside Each travel, is embracing the journey Soaking in the moment, destination never the yardstick of joy Backpacking dreams, brimming with a sense of wonder Travel, is a learning, discovering, with seeking eyes and heart…
INTERVIEW Prashanth Srivatsa, Author: The Spice Gate
In this insightful interview, Prashanth dives deep into the world of The Spice Gate, a richly woven narrative blending the complexity of subjugation, rebellion, and hope.
LOST AND FOUND IN PARADISE
Maya wasn’t at peace ever since she had discovered that her wedding ring was missing. Where on earth did she drop it?
The Soul of Gulzar, the Craft of Rakshanda Jalil
In the delicate art of translation, few challenges compare to capturing the essence of a poet as iconic as Gulzar.
Nehru's First Recruits by Kallol Bhattacherjee
Following India's independence, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was confronted with the enormous challenge of reconstructing a new nation from the rubble of conflict, starvation, and division among communities.
The Gentleman from Peru by André Aciman
In André Aciman's latest novella, \"The Gentleman from Peru,\" readers are taken to the sun-drenched Amalfi coast, where a fortuitous encounter with an intriguing Peruvian gentleman leads to a story of profound love and mysticism.
The Letter With The Golden Stamp by Onjali Q. Rauf
\"The Letter With The Golden Stamp\" by Onjali Q. Rauf is a powerful contemporary children's novel that chronicles the compelling story of Audrey, a young girl thrust into a burdensome role far beyond her years.
The Tamil Story by Dilip Kumar
“The Tamil Story: Through the Times, Through the Tides”, edited by Dilip Kumar and translated by Subashree Krishnaswamy, is a seminal anthology that brings together eighty-eight short stories spanning nearly a century.
Think This, Not That by Dr. Josh Axe
In \"Think This, Not That,\" Dr. Josh Axe offers an engaging manual for realizing your full potential via the adoption of many paradigm-shifting mental practices.
Zeba by Huma Qureshi
Huma Qureshi takes readers on an exciting trip into the life of an unlikely superhero in her debut book, Zeba.