She was sweating profusely now. Her clothes were all wet as if she had just had a swim. All she could hear was her own heart beat lub-dub-lub-dub...which occasinally skipped a beat or two. She tried to see but nothing was visible, for a while she thought she had gone blind.. but then it was so dark nobody could see anything. It was damp and cold and a shiver ran down her spine. She cuddled herself even more lightly and her limbs felt like they could tear apart. She was crouched down under those big hanging things like in that movie 'coma'. She imagined that scene and the thought made her shiver this time, not the cold. She wanted to scream but could not, it never came out of her throat. She wanted to get up and run for the door but her legs refused to cooperate, probably deep in her heart she didn't want to.
She sat there with her knees up and resting her chin on them for what seemed like an eternity. She remembered her mom, she saw her face in the dark.. what a comfort it was. her light perfume smell, she could smell it right now in there. Tears rolled down those cheeks and she sobbed quietly.. it was as if something opened inside her and on and on they came... her mom's soft skin and her touch is all she wanted right now. And then she remembered her dad. Oh how much she missed them. Her dad was her hero.. not any short of a batman or a superman. He was always there when she needed him and he tried to fulfill all her wishes how ever absurd they seemed... now the tears never seemed to be stopping.. the sobs came in quicker and louder.
Just then the door opened.. a bright light filled the room. A strong smell of raw flesh hit her nostrils.
"What's the matter with you? How many times have I told you not to come in here? Is this a place for you to play? I have been searching whole of the house for you and you little rascal sit in this closet and dream about God knows what?"
"Err...I was just playing make-believe mama," she said meekly.
"For a 6 year old you do have lot of imagination. Now come on out and help me with the chicken, your dad needs to deliver it by noon."
"Yes mama" was all she could say.
She wiped her tears and followed her mama into the kitchen. While going, she saw her dad sitting in the big chair smoking his cheap cigar and drinking beer in the living room. That all he does for most of the day.
"Send me another beer, will you?" He shouted from there.
"Don't you think it is too early in the day?" Her mom shouted back from the kitchen.
"Open the ice box and go give that beer to you papa." she said to little Sasha.
When she took the beer to her papa, he smiled and patted her on her cheek and said.."Be a good girl and help your mama, you will be a good wife too like her when you grow up."
Sasha could not understand if it was a blessing or a curse but a small ray of hope lingered in that tiny little heart that things would be different when she would grow up. Or else there is always that game of "make-believe".
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Hi,
First of all thanks 4 the compliment on my name J
My attempt here was to feel the feelings of a 6 yr old about her parents. Life is good for most of us, yeah we do have problems but they are not much if you see what is going on out there in so many lives.. war, killing, rapes, hatred, gangs and diseases ..there is so much of bad happening for so many.. some of them are innocent children like Sasha, who don't understand the "why" of it!
Agree 100 %
Well about her parents being the way the were, I agree that no one is born bad,circumstances make them that way, but whatever the reason may be,her parents may be undergoing through difficult situations themselves, but who is suffering cos of no fault of hers…its sasha….life is difficult for her father because he himself isn’t working instead spending time ,energy and money (earned by his wife) in liquor. He is shunning his responsibilities….here are so many people who are worse than we are ,and there are so many people who are disabled ,who cant work cos of some disabilities, this person is at least capable of doing something ,even if he is disabled he can at least quit drinking… see everything has justifications…its human folly to find justifications for every single thing…but some things don’t deserve to be justified…I feel its one of them…(so don’t feel offended)
I appreciate her mother though, she alone sustains herself and her family… her behaviour is justified to some extent…but I have heard a lot ,a person changes for the one he/she loves…and at least for his children…and it was rightly said that it was a curse for sasha,to be a good wife LIKE her mother…cos she would have to be like her mother if she found a husband like her father…which is not good at all…
And this person loved his wife because she was helping him…with money,liquor by taking his responsibility ,working instead of him,without being rebellious,why wont he appreciate her,she was submissive and adjusting…
Nyways , the make believe world may decrease the effect and sadness for sasha ,and help her to become a good girl ,….
Thanks for appreciating the story, I hope I didn't change your opinion on me though ….
Didn’t get it dear….. pls explain
Take care J
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Hello Aanchal!
You liked the name 'Sasha', I liked your name..cute and traditional
.. my stories, most of the time have happy endings.. so for a change I wanted to write a sad one..
My attempt here was to feel the feelings of a 6 yr old about her parents. Life is good for most of us, yeah we do have problems but they are not much if you see what is going on out there in so many lives.. war, killing, rapes, hatred, gangs and diseases ..there is so much of bad happening for so many.. some of them are innocent children like Sasha, who don't understand the "why" of it!
Sasha's parents seem to be devils but who knows what made them like that.. I strongly believe nobody is born bad, they become bad at some point of time in their lives due to many many reasons..her father is not having work, her mom sells meat to make ends meet..in the process they became like that towards Sasha. She being so young, doesn't understand why life is like that.. so she is playing that game of make-believe to passify herself.. she being a kid, it is easy because of limited knowledge but can her parents do that?? When her dad said you should grow up and be a good wife like your mom, it means that he loves his wife so much 'cause she is taking care of the house while he is out of work. That ray of hope in Sasha's heart should change her life and help her to do better but all that is in the future.. so we don't know what's going to happen. But right now, life is not being fair to all three of them and many times it is like that.
Thanks for appreciating the story, I hope I didn't change your opinion on me though
.. keep reading.
Aparna
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hi,
it is a sad sad story....and sasha what a sweet cute name...and her parents...what devils..and her life...what a tragedy...
i sincerely hope,wish and pray she doesnt become a good wife like her mother...doesnt get a husband like her father,and there is no another sasha like her..this is a heartfelt prayer for all the children who undergo such mental and physical traumas..hope there parents some day change for their children...
such a nice topic to write about,i really appreciate ur perception and choice of the theme,and i really really like people who are sensitive and up for a noble cause....liked reading your story,its so simple and written beautifully
Take care
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Rolling stone : Yes, make-believe is what we all do at some point of our life..mostly when we don't want to embrace the truth which is bitter most of the time. But for a child, it is a boon, it comes naturally for them.. good to know that you liked it.. thanx
Bijaya Ghosh : Yes you are very much true Bijaya, when we look back now, we must have done it many a times. Happy that you liked it.. did you happen to read the other story 'twister'? do comment on it if you do..
Keyaa1 : My heart goes out for the kids out there who are facing many challenges than many of us can dream of in our own lives. It is sad that they are like that when they should be enjoying their childhood.. how cruel is life sometimes..
Glad that you liked the story.. thanks a bunch.
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A lovely post Aparna.The child's emotions come out so well.The hope and the insecurity is all for real.Make believe world is a real world for many.Nice read.
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NICE READING. AT TIMES WE CANNOT TAKE REALITY .THEN DREAMWORLD BECOME OUR SHELTER. MAY BE FOR EACH OF US SUCH MOMENTS ARE THERE.
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NICE READING. AT TIMES WE CANNOT TAKE REALITY .THEN DREAMWORLD BECOME OUR SHELTER. MAY BE FOR EACH OF US SUCH MOMENTS ARE THERE.
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Aparna,
Make believe! We do it all the time, dont we? Sometimes in the guise of being true to self, at times to get a control over situations, tact or strategem. Make-believe is a dreamers way of connecting....
Made lovely reading, the lub-dub lub-dub reminded me of my own blog that I posted a few days ago The Sound of Silence http://ab.sulekha.com/blogs/blogdisplay.aspx?cid=97488.
Check it out when you have the time. Keep blogging.
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