a story by KHUSHI SHARMA 

In the park I once saw a girl being chased by her father looking very happy. When she sat on a bench I walked up to her and I asked her some quetions after that the normal chit-chat started. Soon she became my friend. Her name was Piyali. Some years later once she met me in the same park and told me a story, her story. This stroy contains two phases.

                                                                               Phase-1

       Piyali's dad,Saurubh Agarwal and mom,Vishakha Agarwal got divorced when she was very small and she lived with her dad. Every now and then her dad used to tell her, "I love you!". She found it really awkward, but she never said anything.One day she finally asked not being able to hold herself back anymore that why did he said so everytime they met. His reply was simple and calm, "You'll know when it'll be time."

         That time soon came when.........She came home almost ready to commit suicide. she was unable to see any other way out. You must be curious to know the reason. Actually she failed in 12th which meant her career, her life all will be affected badly and most of all what she was afraid of was that her relationship with her dad would strain apart. Suddenly her dad came in and she hid the knife and first line he spoke was, "No matter what I will always love you" and he hugged her.

           Suddenly she felt the warmth and the love in his heart and she knew that he won't let the thraed of their relatonship break so easily. Suddenly she forgot all about her griefs and decided to tell the truth and after seeing the results react. She told him and instead of scolding he said, "There is always a way out and when you'll see yourself in some 10 years you would be surprised to see that this girl wasn't a failure because she had the strength to fight against her failure." She dropped the idea to suicide.

                                                                        

                                                                                   Phase-2

         "Dad, nothing is going to happen! Just trust God.", said Piyali with water in her eyes to a skinny, small man lying in a hospital bed. That man was Mr. Agarwal, Piyali's dad. She was trying console her dad but he was not able to respond. The doctor called her out and she walked out with her heart in her mouth. Her worries were right. The doctor told her that there was no other chance than to keep him on ventilater and observe.

          Some days later again the same happened and this time the doctor told her," Mr. Agarwal is not recovering but he is sinking instead. We recommand remove him from the ventilater. You cannot see his pain but he is in a lot of pain, Piyali." Her heart suddenly felt very heavy, as though it had stopped beating a long time age and is nothing but a stone.

        She went back to the room and said the three magical words which freed her from her pain, expecting to work same for him.

        Piyali silently walked up to his side and said,"I love you, dad!" and lay her head on his lap. He very slowly and with a lot of difficulty put his hand on her head and smiled.

        When Piyali woke up he was no more. She smiled and said, "I love you, dad!"........

                                     

                                                                                                                         -Khushi Sharma VIII-F