Her eyes welled up as her name was called on stage. The packed auditorium had who’s who from the world of fine arts in attendance. The annual award function had brought the fraternity together to celebrate their passion and reward the best and the budding.

As the auditorium erupted in thunderous clapping, she felt many a hand patting her back, tapping her shoulder and fondling her head. The spot light was focused now on her. She rose slowly and started walking towards the stage. With every step ahead in the moving spot light, her heart hurtled back to the days of darkness…

There she stood, at the back of her shanty, with a charcoal and a limestone in her hand. Looking at the barren expanse and the cracked ground, on a sun light bright day, she was busy making a painting on the mud clad wall. One would have been surprised to see the picture of a field with rich harvest that she was busy creating. What one would have failed to see was the undying hope for the better tomorrow.

Charcoal and Limestone

She was bolted out of green dream when her mother shouted, “Urmi, stop disfiguring wall, else I will box your ears. Go, seek Baba from the fields”

Sliding the charcoal and limestone, her vehicle to the dream land, in her ripped frock’s pocket, she made sure that her pride possession was safe. Off she went sprinting towards the field. It was the late morning of a summer day and the arid, caked ground was turning hotter. Running was the best option to avoid the blistering of the bare feet.

“Baba, baba”, she called out as she neared the field and slowed down her pace. A dangling, silhouetted figure from distant mango tree caught her attention. Not sure what the young, naïve eyes caught sight of, she dashed towards it. She stopped midway and a loud wail escaped her fragile figure that went ripping across far and wide. Her mother rushed out of the hut and ran towards Urmi. Aghast at the sight, she collapsed at Urmi’s feet, never ever to get up again.

The hope of the better tomorrow was orphaned by the harsh reality of the marginal farm land, of treacherous debt trap, sending the charcoal and limestone to the darkness of the shelter home.

Only good thing was that Urmi was now in a big city and attended regular school. Spotting her talent at the nascent stage, Urmi’s drawing teacher encouraged her to participate in various drawing exams and competitions, paving way for many a medal for which her orphanage had no mantle. Love for the art, however, made wonders to her grieving self. As the time passed, growing up, she forgave her parents for deserting her and the heavy hand of destiny as well that left her to be destitute.

“How true that love makes your soul crawl out from the hiding place”, said Urmi, as she spoke in the mike.  She gently kissed her trophy while holding the charcoal and limestone in the tight grip of other hand.


I’m Writing Bravely for the Write Tribe Festival of Words – March 2019 hosted by Write Tribe
I have used word prompt “Forgive” and the quote prompt “Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place.” – Zora Neale Hurston

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Write Tribe Festival of Words

 


45 Comments

Shilpa Garg · March 4, 2019 at 6:56 am

That’s a beautiful story, Anagha. Loved the imagery you created with your words. And the little details too.
You used 2 prompts in the story, that’s so awesome!! Great going!!

    Anagha Yatin · March 4, 2019 at 7:16 am

    Thanks Shilpa. Glad you liked it.

Mayuri6 · March 4, 2019 at 7:33 am

Beautiful story,Anagha. You’ve highlighted a very important issue, deBtriddend Farmer Suicides, and given it a very positive turn. A story of hope.

    Anagha Yatin · March 4, 2019 at 7:39 am

    Thank you so much Mayuri. Indebted.

Abhijit Ray · March 4, 2019 at 8:50 am

Touching and realistic.

    Anagha Yatin · March 4, 2019 at 9:09 am

    Thank you Abhijit ji.

Writing Journey · March 4, 2019 at 9:40 am

You used two prompts in one story and what a well written story it is! I love stories with happy endings…

    Anagha Yatin · March 4, 2019 at 10:16 am

    Thanks for kind words and for dropping by.

Bhagyashree · March 4, 2019 at 9:43 am

Touched. It is so difficult to move forward with hurt in the heart. But then it is not easy to forgive

    Anagha Yatin · March 4, 2019 at 10:18 am

    Carrying the grudge adds to the weight and makes it difficult to trudge up the path of life. Thanks for visiting and resonating so well with my thought Bhagyashree.

Bhagyashree · March 4, 2019 at 9:53 am

Touched!! Its very difficult to move forward with hurt in your heart but then it is not easy to forgive.

    Anagha Yatin · March 4, 2019 at 10:20 am

    Agree you Bhagyashree. Thanks for visiting.

      Bhagyashree · March 4, 2019 at 10:23 am

      I thought my comment has not gone through and typed again. My bad 🙁

        Anagha Yatin · March 4, 2019 at 10:28 am

        I have kept the moderation on to avoid spam. So the issue. Regret inconvenience.

Esha M Dutta · March 4, 2019 at 10:42 am

This is beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time, Anagha! Very well-knit story! Loved your take on the two prompts in the same post. Very contextual in the current scenario with rising farmer suicides and the toll it takes on children’s lives.

    Anagha Yatin · March 4, 2019 at 11:19 am

    Thanks Esha.

Amarjeet Sonia Madaan · March 4, 2019 at 12:25 pm

Beautiful and heart touching story.?

    Anagha Yatin · March 4, 2019 at 12:56 pm

    Thanks Amarjeet.

shravmusings · March 4, 2019 at 12:31 pm

Wow loved the way you used both the prompts. Realistic story that touched the heart

    Anagha Yatin · March 4, 2019 at 12:56 pm

    Thanks for visiting and appreciating.

Suzy · March 4, 2019 at 12:56 pm

Loved how you wove both prompts into one, Heartbreaking story but with a nice ending.

    Anagha Yatin · March 4, 2019 at 10:11 pm

    Thanks Suzy.

Anshu Bhojnagarwala · March 4, 2019 at 1:23 pm

That’s such a powerful image you created with your words, Anagha! Charcoal and limestone couldn’t stop her parents from deserting her but at least they provided her a means to sustain.

    Anagha Yatin · March 4, 2019 at 10:12 pm

    True that Anshu. Thanks for visiting.

xhobdo · March 4, 2019 at 3:28 pm

Beautiful

    Anagha Yatin · March 5, 2019 at 10:04 am

    Thanks for visiting, reading.

Jisha Rajesh · March 4, 2019 at 4:28 pm

What a beautiful story! The use of two prompts in one story was amazing.

    Anagha Yatin · March 5, 2019 at 10:05 am

    Thanks Jisha

magiceye · March 4, 2019 at 4:35 pm

A beautiful positive end to a tragic tale. Beautiful narration.

    Anagha Yatin · March 5, 2019 at 10:06 am

    Thank you so much for visiting and encouraging with kind words.

Sajid Akhter · March 4, 2019 at 5:37 pm

Hi Anagha,

Lovely bit of storytelling. I love the way you take your reader to another land where they get spell bound by the description of your imagery.

Thanks for sharing, have a good day.

    Anagha Yatin · March 5, 2019 at 10:07 am

    Thank you for your time and uplifting words Sajid.

Meena · March 4, 2019 at 8:29 pm

Hey Anagha, I really admire your ability to use 2 prompts in the same story. The imagery you have created brings Urmi’s reality in front of the reader’s eye. Great. Lovely story too. Full of hope

    Anagha Yatin · March 5, 2019 at 10:08 am

    Thanks Meena for visiting and appreciating my efforts

Sachin Baikar · March 4, 2019 at 8:46 pm

Heart touching story ? Anagha. Very well written ? Thanks for sharing.

    Anagha Yatin · March 5, 2019 at 10:09 am

    Thank you Sachin for reading and appreciating.

Kalpana Solsi · March 4, 2019 at 10:43 pm

One side there was grief for Urmi and the other side she dreamt of hope through her art. running faster to avoid the blisters on the feet shows the hardships of the girl. The farmer’s suicide is highlighted. Heart-touching story Anagha Y.

    Anagha Yatin · March 5, 2019 at 10:12 am

    Thanks Kalpana for summing up the story so well and appreciating my take on the prompt.

Geeta Nair · March 5, 2019 at 12:11 am

Touching! Death is painful and more so when the ones you look up to for protection and guidance leave you mid- way. It takes courage to forgive and move on.

    Anagha Yatin · March 5, 2019 at 10:14 am

    Time is the best healer and yes it does need a steely resolve to forgive and forget. Thanks Geeta for visiting and sharing your thoughts

Shivani · March 5, 2019 at 6:22 am

That’s a heart moving story but one which at least has hope. Written beautifully

    Anagha Yatin · March 5, 2019 at 10:16 am

    Hope is what makes the mankind trade ahead in difficult times, isnt it Shivani. Thanks for visiting and resonating with the story.

Damyanti Biswas · March 5, 2019 at 6:26 am

Love is the answer to it all.

    Anagha Yatin · March 5, 2019 at 10:19 am

    Indeed it is! Thanks Damayanti for visiting.

Sonal P Deo · March 5, 2019 at 1:59 pm

Lovely with a beautiful narration!

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