Lost And Found.

It was a sunny day and I was sipping tea which my mom had made. I sat beside my window comfortably and saw some children playing outside. They didn't care about the heat which I often found very irritating. They played with innocence in their eyes and mischief within them. I always cursed the sun but they found a new way of playing with the shadows. They knew how to live life. Among them was a little girl probably of age six playing with her doll. That girl reminded me of one of my favorite childhood memories. A memory which I can never forget, a memory which made me laugh every time I thought about it. 

The girl was not interested in any sort of game that required energy. She just sat under a shady tree and played with her doll which wore a bright pink frock. The doll's hair was golden brown and she also wore high heel shoes which were lustrous red. I was so delighted to see her play with the doll that I couldn't resist myself from imagining what had happened to me. In my memory, I remember...

I had turned seven. It was my birthday and all I wanted at that time was a Barbie doll. My dad lived abroad because of some business transfer or something. I badly wanted my dad to come and surprise me and so he did. He actually came for my seventh birthday! I was extremely happy and hugged him as soon as I saw him. He remembered that I wanted a doll and had brought the same doll that I wished for. That doll was very precious not just because it was my favorite toy but because it was a doll gifted to me by my dad. I used to play with her every single day. I used to keep her with myself and didn't like anyone touching it or taking it away from me. I had named her Breeze. I loved to dress her up, comb her hair and introduce her to my family. She was like my best friend and I never treated her like a plastic toy. 

One fine day when I woke up, I couldn't find the Breeze next to me. I panicked and rushed to the kitchen to ask mom if she had seen her or not. My mom was very busy and just replied, "No darling". I started to cry but didn't lose hope. I searched everywhere but there were no traces of her. I sobbed for long and asked every single person I met like literally everyone out of innocence. I did not pursue any interest in any work from that day. I did not eat properly nor did I lived my life to the fullest. My mother convinced me and tried to make me happy but she failed every time. She brought another doll that looked just the same, but I refused to accept it. 

One day when my little sister was asleep, my mother called me downstairs and asked me to wake her up. That apparently turned out to be a miracle for which I am thankful for even to this date. 

I went upstairs to wake my sister and all of a sudden out of nowhere I found a small, pink shoe under the bed. I bent down and crawled a little and luckily found Breeze under the bed. I took her in my hands and held her tight. Then in excitement, I stood up and banged my head on the bed but that did not bother me.

I rushed downstairs and told my mother about it and I danced and laughed and laughed and danced in happiness and in that excitement and hurry to play with Breeze, I forgot to wake my sister. 

I still have a Breeze with me in the attic. My sister is also a grown-up now and does not want that doll. My mother often says to give her away but I can't.