There was no
use of ringing the bell… he fished out the key and pushed the door open. He
switched on the lights and went to his room. There was complete silence and he
could hear his stomach rumble. He fetched some bread and butter and had it.
Ron’s routines were monotonously the same everyday but he had somehow got used
to it though he longed for a change. Ron started working with his homework when
he heard a car zoom into
the porch. His parents had come. He ran to the door with lots of zeal as he had
something to show them- his new painting.
“Huff…. what a
tiring day it was!” said Mr. John
“Yeah….right,
I really had a tight schedule working out my new building plans,” said Mrs.
John joining the conversation.
“Mom…...Dad …I’ve
got something to show you.” said Ron.
“Ron, can’t
you see, we’re tired. Please don’t disturb us now.” said his mom.
“But…..”
“No ifs and
buts, can we go in if you’re done?” said his dad crossly.
“Okay…”said Ron.
He held the paper closer as he dragged himself into the room.
They never had
time for him. He had no one to share his pressure with. School was not any
better. No one understood him there too. One day after the school, he went to
the park nearby. There he sat on a bench and buried his face in his hands. He
could feel someone sit beside him.
“What happened
dear? Why are you so sad?” asked a stranger.
Ron was not
sure of how to respond. It was the first time anyone had asked him this and he
felt an overwhelming urge of divulging out his feelings to the familiar
stranger.
“I’m lonely. I
do not know what to do and whom to share my feelings with. I have countless
queries and doubts but everyone seems so busy. No one has time for me. Will you
listen to me?” asked Ron.
The question
struck the stranger.
“Yes dear tell
me everything. I will try to solve your queries”
The stranger’s
presence seemed to relax Ron. He shared all what he felt. An expression of
concern ran through the face of the stranger.
“Um….you seems
to have lots of feelings within. Why don’t you paint your imaginations? It will
surely bring you out of boredom and solitude.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes I am.
Artistic skills always help you depict your emotions through them.”
“Then I’m
surely going to try.” replied Ron with a
sweet smile on his face.
Reaching home,
Ron started working hard on his paintings. Through paintings, he elucidated
himself and each of them portrayed his feelings. Sadly he never met the
stranger again. Soon he started looking for subjects to be painted of. Everything excited him. He
started spending more time outdoor. The nature, trees, animals all became
subjects for him. He started befriending everything he saw and talked endless
hours with them be it animal, insects or trees. He no more felt lonely. Some days later, he nervously went to
his dad holding a paper- his mark sheet.
“Dad, are you
free?”
“No, I’m not. Can’t
you see? “But dad this
is important. Please would you sign on it?”
“You want me
to sign? What exactly is it” Ron
handed him the mark sheet.
“Your result
sheet?”
“Umm… yeah”
“What is this
Ron? Such low marks in science and math. Are you planning to flunk this year?
Missy…..do you see this? Look at our son’s result. “
“Ron, how can
you be like this? It is all because you waste your time and you rarely do take
things seriously. I am so ashamed of you. You are just a useless boy.,” shouted
his mother. Ron was very sad. He did not expect such an outburst. He ran to his
room and banged the door. He did not turn up for the dinner that day. Early in
the morning, he took his bicycle and rode away to the school without breakfast,
leaving his parents bewildered.
That day in
the morning Ron’s parents were getting ready for work when they received a
phone call.
“Hello….” “Hello is this Mr. John, Ron’s father?” “Yes…can I know who is speaking?”
“I am Ron’s
class teacher. Can both of you drop in to the school for a while? It is
important.”“Sure.” replied Ron’s father.
At about 10 am both of them reached the school. They met his class
teacher.
“Madam… did
Ron create any problem? We will surely talk to him.” said Mr. John.
“No there is
nothing like that. Can you please come with me?”
She guided
them to the multi purpose hall. There they saw many paintings lined up. They
realized that a competition was being held, but wondered why they were brought
here. Glancing through the paintings, they saw- five of them had Ron’s name.
Both of them gasped
seeing such beautiful creations of their son. However, they noticed something
strange in all them. All those paintings symbolized loneliness. Sadly, they
realized the reason why.
“Ron
participated in this competition and it overwhelms me to say that he won the
first prize too.,” said his teacher.
Both his
parent’s eyes filled with tears when they heard this. They never knew their son
could paint so well. From the corner of
their eye, they could see Ron standing alone holding a cup and a gleaming
certificate. Both of them could not hold their emotions that they ran towards
him and buried him in the warmth of their hug. He started weeping out of joy as
he had always longed for this moment and it had finally come. He hugged them
back hardly able to hold back his rolling tears.
“I love you
mom, dad” said Ron between his sobs. “We
love you too Ron.” cried both of them.
All of them
loved this feeling of togetherness and wished it to last forever and they were sure it would.
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