Shweta Agarwal

Drama Tragedy

3.0  

Shweta Agarwal

Drama Tragedy

One candle of light.

One candle of light.

2 mins
346


It was that darkest, gloomiest hour. When your senses are numbed, your day thrown out of the gear. It was a phone call from her mother; in a voice shivering, and remorseful like never before.

“Alan has gone, and Emma too. Also the kids. Come as soon as you can.”

Herself dazed, Alice had no words to comfort her mother. The news of her brother’s family dying in the accident, left her in need of support herself. The faces, and voices of each of them revolved in front of her eyes. She was in complete disbelief they had all left. Together. Too dizzy to figure out how to prepare, from where to start, to concentrate, to gather the strength, to pack, to leave, and be by mother’s side for the funeral.

“I have booked the tickets. The plain leaves at 11 :00 PM. I am reaching in half an hour” her husband said. “also, I have informed Mrs. Bethany. She will reach to help you out with kids while we can manage other things.”

Soon, Mrs. Bethany arrived, and took out the kids for lunch. But still there was dishes to be done, suitcases to be packed, dirty ones waiting to be swirled into the washing machine, clothes to be ironed, supper to be made. Just then, the doorbell rang again, and the old pastor of the neighboring church stood waiting at the door. “I have come to clean your shoes. You will be needing clean ones to pack” In her state of dilemma, Alice had completely forgotten about the shoes. How her children had got them all coated in mud as they kicked off splashed rainwater and jumped into slimy puddles yesterday. The pastor stationed himself against the wall on the kitchen floor. He fished out some soap, and sponge from the kitchen sink and with a basin of water beside him, quietly he scrubbed, cleaned, wiped and polished each of their shoes. The image of this holy, humble man bent over his work, gave Alice the focus she needed. She and her husband were able to complete the chores one by one and when the household was in place, and it was time to pack the shoes, she found them resting against the wall. Each of them clean and tidy that could be directly packed inside the suitcase with clothes.

At times a small act of selfless service, is needed than the many words of solace over the phone.


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