main menu | youngsters categories | authors | new stories | search | links | settings | author tools |
A SLICE OF CAKE (standard:other, 833 words) | |||
Author: Mehul | Added: Jan 25 2002 | Views/Reads: 3516/3 | Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes) |
Rimbo, Rahul and a slice of cake....a story set in India. | |||
A SLICE OF CAKE Rimbo died yesterday, when I turned ten. I had been sitting comfortably in the car, looking at the orange and yellow traffic lights go by. We had been on our way back from Priya Cinema, and having just watched 101 Dalmatians, I was jumping with excitment to meet my favourite companion. Papa brought the Maruti slowly to a halt near our house. Instead of the usual "Rahul, go and open the gate", my mother lovingly stepped out of the car to go and open the gate. As always, Dadi was waiting for us, standing near the door. I saw my mother speak to her for a second, then look back at the car, and then back to her, as if she couldn't decide something. She walked back out of the verandah and slowly shut the gate. Papa, surprised at was she was doing, opened the car door and walked to her. They talked grimly for a few moments. I was getting excited at the thought of what present they had in store for me. So I just sat there, fists clenched, waiting for the "Happy Birthday!". Mama and papa opened the door and sat in the car. "What is it?", I eagerly asked. After a moment of silence, my mother managed to whisper a few words to me. "Rahul, Rimbo died a few hours back". I just stared at her, my feeble mind not being able to comprehend the reality which loomed in front of me. What did she mean by 'Rimbo died'? Rimbo couldn't die, he was a dog. Dogs don't die, they lick people. Rimbo licked my face. A knot the size of a huge stone crept into my throat. The first few tears came out when I ran past dadi, who just stared into the silent verandah, the gate left swinging open and the car still standing there, the back door open. I ran to the back of the house, where I saw the his wooden house, the empty bowl lying outside. I frantically looked around in disbelief, searching for any signs of him. Then I saw the old blanket. It was lying in a corner, like the dirty clothes pile which the washer woman picks up everyday. I stared at the pile for a second, dreading what I was about to see, and suddenly I ran to the bundled blanket and threw it open. His golden brown legs were stiff, as if they had been stuffed, and his grey eyes were wide open. He was alive, my mind told me. They had made a mistake, he was probably asleep. "Wake up, Rimbo", I shouted, shaking his heavy body. But he didn't wake up. The knot became bigger as I realised that he was actually not there anymore. The tears flowed out and I cried, holding on to him tightly, not wanting to let go. Papa came from behind and picked me up. I couldn't see anything, I just cried and held on to Rimbo. Gently, he freed the golden brown fur from my clutches and set it back onto the blanket. I had lost all control. I just cried and bawled, and buried my face in his arms, the tears flowing uncontrollably. Mama was standing behind him, looking at me helplessly, wondering if there was anyway she could change the situation, and at the same time knowing there was none. Papa carried me all the way to my room, and put me gently on my bed. Mama came and lay down beside me and I held on to her and cried. I think I just cried myself to sleep. The birds were chirping when I drifted into the morning. My face was smeared with dried tears and I was comfortably tucked in. Sunshine streamed in through the window and I could hear the distant cries of the vegetable seller outside. Suddenly, amidst the morning sounds, I heard a sharp yapping bark. I shot up from my bed and looked all around the room. Bending over the side of my bed, I saw him. He was a cute little puppy, the same golden brown colour. Joyously, I picked him up in my hands and pulled him onto my bed. He looked at me through his brown eyes and started licking my face. I laughed, and he barked in excitement. The door burst open and in came mama and papa, followed by dadi with a cake in her hands. "Happy Birthday!". I smiled, though a weak smile. The knot was still there, but slowly diminishing. The pup was fooling around in my bedsheet, rolling all over. I sat at the edge of my bed, and mama got the cake near me. It was black forest, my favourite kind, and something was written on it with light blue icing. I smiled again, a much stronger smile, as I read. 'All dogs go to heaven.' The puppy licked my foot as I cut the first slice of cake. _________________________ Tweet
Authors appreciate feedback! Please write to the authors to tell them what you liked or didn't like about the story! |
Mehul has 7 active stories on this site. Profile for Mehul, incl. all stories Email: neologizm@hotmail.com |