A boy is born.
A boy is born after six years of prayers. A boy is born after six years of penance. A boy is born after six years of pilgrimages to holy ashrams from the summit of the Himalayas to the shores of Kanya Kumari.
A boy is born after six years of philanthropy that emptied the savings account. A boy is born after desperate offerings of coconuts and flowers at temples. A boy is born after contributions to charities in cash and kind.
A boy is born after six years so he must receive a new toy every day, he must wear pure silk and fine linen, he must be fed the choicest of sweets and delicacies, he must be cuddled and coddled and cossetted.
A boy is born after six years so he should never hear a harsh word, never be disciplined, never be punished, never be reproved.
A boy is born after six years of trying and crying.
A boy is born after his sisters make way.
A boy is born.
---
First published in Mythic Picnic Tweet Story Contest V7, May, 2021.
Too true, too true, I fear ... but a good story, yes!
ReplyDelete