She looked out of the window for the fifth time that night. He was still standing motionless near the hedge at the same place she had seen him earlier. It was a very cold night and it was freezing in the garden outside, though she was comfortable in the coziness of her heated room. He was wearing nothing warm except an old thread-bare, moth-eaten, woolen muffler. The hat that was earlier on his head had been blown away by the continuous wind.
Her heart melted for him and she ran out at the first possible opportunity in the morning and hugged him.But he did not return the hug. She hoped he would melt a little and not be so cold-hearted. But her mother called her back inside and asked her to get ready for school. As she left for to board the bus on the other side of the road, she turned back and gave him a final look and hoped he would still be there when she returned.
It was a bright sunny day at school for everyone except her. She was gloomy in contrast to the other students. She was anxiously waiting for the classes to be over so that she could get back home and give him another hug.
She returned from school in the late afternoon and the bus dropped her off at her gate. When she got off, she looked for him. But she was disappointed. She ran to where he had stood and saw that he had collapsed in a shapeless heap. His damp and cold muffler lying on the ground was all she could recognise of him.
She was struck by and the only thing that came to her mind was her father's words she had heard just a week ago. He had said in mock anger, "If anyone tries to steal your affection from me and comes between us, I will get him liquidated." The word liquidated was something she had not encountered before or understood.
The five-year old now understood what it might have meant, especially when her beloved snowman had melted.
Copyright notice: The contents of this blog may not be used in any form without the express written consent of the blog owner, who may be contacted at kishoremrao@hotmail.com.
Her heart melted for him and she ran out at the first possible opportunity in the morning and hugged him.But he did not return the hug. She hoped he would melt a little and not be so cold-hearted. But her mother called her back inside and asked her to get ready for school. As she left for to board the bus on the other side of the road, she turned back and gave him a final look and hoped he would still be there when she returned.
It was a bright sunny day at school for everyone except her. She was gloomy in contrast to the other students. She was anxiously waiting for the classes to be over so that she could get back home and give him another hug.
She returned from school in the late afternoon and the bus dropped her off at her gate. When she got off, she looked for him. But she was disappointed. She ran to where he had stood and saw that he had collapsed in a shapeless heap. His damp and cold muffler lying on the ground was all she could recognise of him.
She was struck by and the only thing that came to her mind was her father's words she had heard just a week ago. He had said in mock anger, "If anyone tries to steal your affection from me and comes between us, I will get him liquidated." The word liquidated was something she had not encountered before or understood.
The five-year old now understood what it might have meant, especially when her beloved snowman had melted.
***
Copyright notice: The contents of this blog may not be used in any form without the express written consent of the blog owner, who may be contacted at kishoremrao@hotmail.com.
Twist in the tail, a la Archer
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