In the One Word – Many Moments Flash Fiction series,
Previous Word : Rain.
She was bawling! He tried asking her what happened. Their mother shushed him.
“This is for you, Mary. You only get to play with this,” the mother said to her crying child.
“What happened, Mom?”
“She wants the train your Daddy bought for you.”
“Oh! I’ll get it for her. Wait.”
“No. She’ll play with her doll. Or else she’ll break both toys by tomorrow!”
“But she’s crying!”
“Let her cry. I’ll get her milk. You go and play with your train. Your friend is waiting for you,” the mother walked away, patting the boy on the head.
Quietly, he went into his room, picked up the train much to his friend’s surprise, and went and gave it to his step-sister.
“There you go!” he said, placing a peck on the three year old’s cheek, who miraculously stopped crying immediately!
***

“This time we’ll go to the fair together!” he told his son, placing him on his shoulder and walking around in the house looking for his wife.
“Maa! Maa! Papa’s back!” the child shouted excitedly.
“What happened?” asked the mother as she came out hurrying from the bathroom, soap suds on arms and a semi-washed towel in hand!
“We are going to the fair together this time! I got my leave from office,” a smiling husband told his wife.
The next morning, the little kid heard his parents talking. The police force required more personnel. The father’s leave had been cancelled. They didn’t know how to break it to the son.
“Papa, we’ll meet you at the fair. And then you can buy me an ice cream,” the kid said, boldly walking in to the room.
Tears welled up in two pairs of eyes.
***

Finally, a customer entered. She greeted the person with a bright smile!
“Would you by any chance have change worth Rs. 500?” he asked, extending a note of the same denomination.
Her face fell! She barely had 250 bucks in her cash counter! Her shop was running at a pace slower than a snail’s. She politely turned down his request. Murmuring not so kind words, he left the shop.
Soon enough she heard the dog whimper outside. Taking that as cue for her lunch hour, like everyday she divided her lunch into two equal halves. Keeping her part aside, she went and served the rest to the old street dog lying on her spare ‘WELCOME’ door mat by the side of the shop.
Graciously Yours!
P.S. : The sacrifices made silently are the ones most worthy of applause, because they are least driven by it!
I love the way you write short stories. You are never short of ideas!
Loved the lesson :))
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Thank you, Izza! I try 🙂 I’m glad you found the read worth it 😀
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Wow, the third story moved me. You’ve done well with this word and you are right: silent sacrifices are the most worthy.
Good luck in the future. 🙂
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Thank you so much!! Now I can uncross my fingers 😉
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The whole post made me go ‘aww’ 🙂 and I totally agree with you, the silent sacrifices are the real sacrifices. After doing something,if you mention it, then and there all of it is gone in vain.
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Thank you, Preeti! Yes, that’s what hurts the eye too.. Seeing people boast about the sacrifices they have made irrespective of what we might think about it…
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Heart-warming. 🙂
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Thank you so much! I am indeed glad you found it so. 🙂
Welcome to the blog! 😀
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This is brilliant
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You’re awesome! Thank you 😉
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Welcome 🙂
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Silent sacrifices tell so much about a person. It becomes visible through the happiness in their eyes. I am so glad I am finally here to read such heartwarming stuff 🙂
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Well, I don’t know about the blogger, but the blog missed you 😉
To silently sacrifice requires so much courage! And we often believe it to be synonymous with duty, responsibility and their likes.
P.S. Technically, you were late! 😛
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You got me shivers in every story. Amazingly beautiful.
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I’m glad you liked it! Thank you ❤
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This is beautiful. 🙂
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Thank you, Shambhavi! 🙂 To locate the beauty in it, is the main essence…
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🙂 You’re welcome dear.
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