Pankaj's Short Stories

Repentance 🌿

A boy named Lalam. He was from a poor family. His father used to sell coal. His mother used to tell Lalam daily that son, study, go to school. But Lalam did not listen to her. He used to go to school only sometimes and did not study at home. He used to be busy playing and roaming around with his friends. Lalam's friends were from middle class families. Their fathers were employed in government offices. Lalam's father used to go to bring and sell coal only sometimes and the rest of the days he used to remain drunk. The time for examination came. Lalam gave the examination. But due to not studying, he failed in the examination. Days and years passed like this. Lalam was now eighteen years old. Lalam's father did not go to bring and sell coal anymore. His father was now always drunk. Lalam's friends had now become businessmen. Because his friends had enough money. Lalam now used to go to bring and sell coal daily. One day Lalam tied five sacks on his bicycle and set out towards the mine to bring coal. It was summer season. After some time he reached the mine. The mine was quite old. He parked his cycle and started filling coal in sacks. There was scorching sunshine all around. Sweat was dripping from Lalam's forehead. Hot winds were blowing. Some motorcycles were seen coming on the road. The boys riding the motorcycles asked Lalam- How are you Lalam? Lalam said- I am fine. Those motorcycles went on their way. Lalam's friends were riding those motorcycles. Lalam kept staring at the motorcycles as they went. It was afternoon. Lalam filled the coal in sacks and after loading the sacks on the bicycle, he started thinking to himself. If only I had listened to my mother, then today I would not be digging coal. Today he was regretting it. He kept moving towards his home with his bicycle, cursing his life.