The seventh short story submitted to the TOI Write India competition. For the other stories click here
ย Author Prompt
It was the first thought that came to her as she woke up. He was gone. And, soon, this bedroom, the house in whose eastern corner it sat, and the tiny garden outside with its gnarled old red hibiscus and the half-grown mango tree they had planted together, all those would be gone as well. It was the strangest feeling ever. by Jaishree Misraย (For more about the contest/rules click here).
The Christmas Present
Daddy wasnโt going to come home ever.
It was the first thought that came to her as she woke up. He was gone. And, soon, this bedroom, the house in whose eastern corner it sat, and the tiny garden outside with its gnarled old red hibiscus and the half-grown mango tree they had planted together, all those would be gone as well. It was the strangest feeling ever.
Rhea closed her eyes, trying to shut out the present, the past, the pain. But no matter how hard Rhea tried, the memories came flooding back. Her hiding in the dark, pressing back against the shadows, stifling her scream, of her fatherโs low menacing growl, โAre you hiding in here Princess? I can hear you breathing.โ
Rhea clapped a hand over her nose but it was too late. A hand reached out and plucked her out.
Rhea squealed and protested even as she threw her puny arms around him. โNot fair Daddy! If I hadnโt got a cold you would have never found me.โ
โWell, thatโs your fault isnโt it my little Princess?โ Jason pulled her button nose as he strode off with her in his arms. โRemember what the doctor said? Itโs because you donโt eat properly that you keep falling ill.โ
โOh but I do eat! Do you want me to eat like an elephant?โ
Jason laughed. โBut that doesnโt mean you eat like an ant!โ
โDaddy do you know how strong ants are? They can carry load up to 50 times their weight.โ
Jason put her down and got down on his haunches beside her. โAre you 6 years old or 60?โ
Rhea sighed and put her hands on her hips. โHow would I know Daddy? I was just a baby when I was born wasnโt I?โ
Jason cracked up.
โCome on Daddy, itโs your turn to hide now,โ Rhea pulled him.
Chuckling Jason got to his feet. โLater. First have dinner.โ
โNo! First you hide.โ
โAfter dinner, I promise.โ
โYou are cheating!โ Rhea walked off in a huff.
Jason caught up with her. โCheating?โ
She looked at him knowingly. โYou are trying to trick me into eating arenโt you?โ
Jason clapped his hands together and bowed. โYes Granny!โ
Please and flattered, Rhea condescended to nibble at her food. โMummy, after dinner you also come and play. Itโs my turn to be the den.โ
Gia smiled and pinched her cheeks. โMaybe if you finish all the food on your plate.โ
Rhea rolled her eyes. โNot you too!โ
Gia looked at Jason, whose shoulders were shaking. โBeware Gia, thatโs not your daughter. Thatโs my Granny โ isnโt it?โ
โYes!โ Rhea frowned and tapped him on the knuckles with her spoon. โCome on now, eat your food quickly. Wash your plate and donโt forget to brush your teeth.โ She dropped her serious veneer and giggled into her hand.
Warm rich laughter erupted and broke over the clatter of cutlery.
It was her turn to find Daddy. She hunted for him high and low, upstairs and downstairs, outside and inside but he was nowhere.
โDaddy? Daddy! Daddy!!!โ She woke screaming.
Gia held Rhea close as she blabbered. โโWhereโs Daddy? Why doesnโt he come home? Is he angry with me Mummy? I promise I will eat up everything Mummy, just ask him to come home. Tell him that I lost the game Mummy. Please Mummy.โ
โShush my darling shush. Itโs okay dear. He has just gone on a long flight, somewhere very far.โ Gia wiped her face and consoled her. โYou know he is a pilot right? It happens that sometimes he is gone for days on end? Well this time it is just taking longer than usual.โ Her voice broke and she turned away to hide her emotions.
โBut why are we staying at Grannyโs house? When are we going back home? What if Daddy is home? What if he canโt find us?โ Rhea was getting hysterical and Gia had no answers. She couldnโt bring herself to tell Rhea the truth – her beloved Daddy wasnโt coming home ever.
โSoon sweetheart, soon.โ Gia mumbled as she rocked her to sleep.
โDaddy will come home for Christmas wonโt he Mummy? Will you tell Santa I donโt want any gift for Christmas? Just that Daddy should come home.โ
โYes darling.โ
But days passed as did weeks and months but there was no sign of Daddy. Rhea stopped asking about him but she continued to wait for him, starting with every car that turned the corner, every knock on the door, every ring of the telephone.
And then one day, Gia stowed their bags in the car and said, โCome letโs go.โ
โWhere are we going Mummy? To Daddy?โ
โHush. Itโs a secret!โ
โWhereโs Granny? Arenโt we going to say bye to her?โ
โSheโฆSheโs busy.โ Gia hurried her into the car.
โOh!โ Rhea squealed in delight as she spied the red blooms of their hibiscus, โWe are home! Daddy, Daddy!โ Rhea tumbled out of the car and stopped short.
A stranger stood at the door.
โCome Rhea, come in and meet your new Daddy.โ
Rhea stared at the tall man. He wasnโt at all like her Daddy. She didnโt want a new Daddy. She wanted her old Daddy.
โDidnโt I tell you that Santa always listens to good girls?โ Giaโs voice was shrill.
โWho is that?โ
โThat?โ Giaโs laugh was forced. โThat is your new brother Ron. Say hello to him dear.โ
Rhea looked at the scruffy grumpy boy standing a little off. He ignored them and stared determinedly at the PSP in his hand.
Rheaโs eyes swung back to her mother. โAm I going to get a new Mummy too?โ
โNo!โ Her motherโs voice broke on her laugh. โWhy would you need a new Mummy? I am here arenโt I?โ She paused. โBut I am Ronโs new Mummy. Hello dear,โ she held out her arms.
โI am 9 years old and I donโt need a new Mummy.โ Ron stomped out of the room.
โHello, I am Jake.โ The tall stranger bent down.
Rhea stared at him unblinkingly. โI am 6 years old and I also donโt want a new Daddy.โ
โFair enough. Maybe you would like a new friend?โ
โI donโt make friends easily.โ She warned.
โGreat! I do. So letโs play a game shall we?โ
โGame?โ
โA game to see who wins โ you at not making friends or me at making friends.โ Jake held up his hand.
Intrigued and almost reflexively, Rhea gave him a high five. โGame on!โ She grinned at him confident of winning.
โAha!โ Jake pointed a finger at her, his eyes twinkling. โBe careful, you are smiling; you could lose the game.โ
Rhea hurriedly straightened her expression but it slipped. She pressed her lips and turned away. โI am going to my room Mummy.โ She cast Jake a sidelong glance.
Jake grinned. โI am going to win just you wait.โ
Rhea stalked off with her nose in the air. She spoilt it by turning back to check if Jake was looking at her. He winked. She giggled and ran off.
Rhea was in a fix – she liked Jake but she didnโt want a new Daddy. Neither did she want a new brother.
But where was he?
Rhea peeked into the guest room. Ah, there he was, glued to his PSP.
She pushed the door open. He ignored her. Encouraged, she entered. โYou are staying in this room?โ
โDonโt ask stupid questions.โ
โThat means you are just a guest.โ Rheaโs voice dripped with satisfaction.
Ron sent her a withering glance.
Unfazed Rhea carried on. โWhereโs your Mummy? Is she also a pilot?โ
Ron glared. โMy Mummy is dead do you understand? Like your father is dead.โ
โMy father is not dead. His airplane got lost and he canโt find his way back. When I grow up I am going to be a pilot. I will find him and bring him back.โ
โDonโt be a fool. Your father is dead. He can never come back.โ
โWhen I become a pilot, I will hunt for your Mummy too.โ
โGet out of my room leave me alone.โ He slammed the door on her face.
Rhea knocked on the door until he opened the door. โWhat?โ he snarled.
โMy Daddy isnโt dead. He is playing hide and seek with me. He is doing this to make me to eat. I try very hard but I still canโt eat. No matter how hard I try, it all comes out. Thatโs why Daddy is still hiding from me. But he canโt hide forever can he? Did your Mummy play hide and seek with you?โ
Ronโs throat worked. โNo. She used to tell me stories. After I finished my homework.โ
โDid you do your homework?โ
โNo.โ
โOh but then that will only make her angrier. Maybe if you did your homeworkโฆโ
โStop talking nonsense will you?โ
โMummy also tells stories. Shall I ask her to tell youโฆ?โ
โNo! I donโt want your Mummy to tell me a story. Go away and leave me alone.โ
โI also know many stories. Shall I tell you a story?โ
โOf Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty? No thanks.โ He turned his back to her. But then he turned around again and burst out. โJust becoming a pilot wonโt help. When people die they become stars. And pilots canโt reach the stars. But what would you know?โ He scoffed.
She stood there beaten, but only for a moment. โAstronauts can reach the stars. I will become a pilot and you become an astronaut. Together we will find them.โ She clapped her hands. โThis is better than hide and seek.โ
โGet out.โ Ron pushed her out and closed the door.
She looked up to find Jake staring at her.
โGive him time.โ Jake said. โLike you he also takes time to make friends.โ He grinned. โNot like me.โ
Rhea turned away but he called out. โI was just going to eat mangoes and then plant the seeds.โ
Rhea stopped.
โWould you like to help me?โ
Rhea nodded.
โGreat! Let me call Ron as well.โ
Gia peeped in to see all three of them, elbow deep in mango, peels on one side, and seeds on the other.
โReady to plant some seeds?โ
โYay, letโs go!โ Rhea scrambled up from her chair and ran out into the garden. The others followed sedately.
It was hot, sunny, and messy but a lot of fun. There were five seeds and each planted one.
โLetโs plant the last one together,โ suggested Jake. So, with great enthusiasm (Rhea) and a show of reluctance (Ron), the last seed was planted rather ceremoniously.
โWell well! Just look at all of us!โ Jake laughed. Rhea looked down at herself. There was no denying it she was the muddiest of the lot. โOh! It will take ages to clean up. And Mummy will scold me for dirtying the bathroom.โ She pouted.
โHmm.โ Jake tapped his cheek thoughtfully. โLet me see. How about this?โ He picked up the hose and swung it towards her bare mud-caked legs. Rhea squealed and jumped. He leaned towards her. โCome on now itโs Ronโs turn.โ
Rheaโs eyes widened. She grabbed the hosepipe and together they sprayed Ron top to toe. He gave a yell and jumped into fray and soon it was a free for all session, even Gia wasnโt spared. Shrieks, screams and laughter cascaded over them in healing waves.
Rhea was sporting enough to accept defeat and accept Jake as her friend if not her Daddy. Ron remained aloof and insisted on maintaining his distance. But that didnโt stop Rhea from pestering him. She would wait impatiently for him to return from school and then sit with him while he had his lunch. She would weave exotic and far-fetched plans to bring back her Daddy and his Mummy quite oblivious of his silence and rejection.
Until one day she didnโt come to sit with him.
Restless, Ron sought her out. He found her curled up in her chair, clutching her Daddyโs picture.
โWhat happened?โ His voice was gruff.
โYou were right. My Daddy and your Mummy are dead. They have gone away to a place where no pilot can go.โ Tears rolled down her cheeks.
โHow do you know?โ
โMy teacher asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up. I told her I wanted to be a pilot so that I could bring back my Daddy. Sheโฆshe laughed at me.โ She sobbed. โTheโฆthe whole cโฆclass laughed at me. Nobody can bring back my Daddy or your Mummy.โ Rhea was quite inconsolable.
Ron stood there feeling the familiar helpless rage creep up on him. โOf course you canโt. Didnโt I tell you that long ago? But donโt worry when I grow up I will become an astronaut. I will bring back my Mummy and your Daddy.โ
Rheaโs tears dried miraculously. โReally? Promise?โ
Ron looked at her with foreboding. โOnly if you donโt nag me. And you canโt tell anyone about this. It has to be our secret.โ
Rhea nodded. โCross my heart and hope to die. And I promise I wont even come and sit with you when you have lunch.โ
Ron coughed. โYou can sit if you like. I donโt mind.โ
Rhea threw her arms around Ron. He let her hug him before pushing her away with a ferocious frown. She dimpled at him. She had another friend! He would bring her Daddy back. She skipped away to her Mummy.
โWhy are you packing Mummy? Are we going somewhere?โ
โYes we are soon going away from here Rhea.โ
โWhere? To Daddy?โ
โNo, to a new house.โ
โBut why Mummy? What about our mango tree? The one we all planted?โ
Gia shrugged. โWe are now shifting to Bangalore where my new job is.โ
โAll of us?โ
โNo just us. You didnโt want a new Daddy or a new brotherโฆโ
โThat was before Mummy. Santa was right. IโฆI like my new Daddy. Ron too.โ
โItโs too late now. They are also leaving.โ
And today Ron was gone. Jake too. They would never return, just like her Daddy. Ron would grow up and forget his promise. He would find his Mummy but not her Daddy. She clutched her pillow to crush out the pain in her chest. Ron was just a little boy but how could Jake do this to her? Hadnโt he said they were friends forever?
A paper fluttered. She picked it up. A smiley stared up at her holding a placard –Friends forever. And underneath it was a phone number.
Rheaโs heart gave a leap. Jake hadnโt really gone away. She could phone him anytime!
Butโฆbut why hadnโt Daddy left his phone number? Daddy was mean. So was Mummy.
โMummy, you are mean too. You let Daddy go. And now you let my new Daddy and new brother go too. This time for Christmas I am going to ask Santa for a new Mummy.โ
***
Yup, this one didn’t make the list eitherย – how about you telling me what you think – the good, the bad and the ugly…
But on a positive note – my blogger friend Ramya won the first prize for this prompt ๐ My heartiest congratulations to her! If you like, you can hop over to her blog for some awesome stories.
Click here for more Short Stories or here for more information About the Blog
ย
I like it. It’s profoundly sad, but it catches the spirit of a young girl in this position.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for dropping in and the kind words.
LikeLike
Think about your relationships and the effect it has on others
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly Cheena – glad you got that ๐
LikeLike
Thanks for the pingback Dahlia! I really love the refreshing take of your story – as to how a 6 yr old views love, loss, relationships and the tragedies of life, in her own charmingly innocent, uncomplicated way… really interesting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Ramya! Look forward to reading your prizewinning submission ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great take from a little girl’s view point. I loved how you portrayed Rhea, adorable, mature in her own sense and easy going. I seemed to like Jake too ๐
Better luck next time Dahlia. You always become better from your losses.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading Sampada – yea Jake’s cute ๐ – and your good wishes ๐
LikeLike
Her innocence and the free spirit would tug at one’s heartstrings…but what was that…. an arrangement of few days?…was feeling happy for her as she warms up to her new father and brother, and then there goes everyone ….strewed into different paths…away from her!
LikeLiked by 1 person
An arrangement which was meant to last long but one that didnt work out so went their own ways as they thought best. The children, what do they know – they are children after all….
LikeLike
That was a heartbreaking one….beautiful but the end is bitter still true though…speechless heard Kim in the background…
Awesome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you and good to see you here ๐
LikeLike
Hi Dahlia. After 50 episodes of SS took a break to read a short story. Started of with a lump in my throat, then a big grin, life’s a roller coaster ride. A true bitter sweet story – loved it !!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Lynette for reading something other than IPK! That I managed to strike a chord for an IPK fan means a lot ๐
LikeLike