INNOCENCE : An Innocent Lovestory

★Rihaan's Trauma★

For those who wonder why his parents sent him to boarding school.

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The Mehra family had never been one for lavish luxuries, but they prided themselves on their closeness and simple, content life. Mr and Mrs. Mehra worked tirelessly to provide for their two sons, Raj and Rihaan, whom they loved more than anything in the world. Although life had its struggles, they dreamed of a brighter future for their boys, especially given that they lived in a small, rural village where opportunities were scarce.

Rihaan was an exceptionally bright student. He had an aptitude for learning that even his teachers marveled at. But as the years went on, his potential outgrew the resources available in their village school. They wanted to give him every possible advantage, so when his teacher suggested sending him to a boarding school in the city for better education, they couldn’t ignore the opportunity. It meant financial sacrifices, yes, and heartache too, but they believed it was for the best.

*****

Mrs. Mehra twisted the end of her sari anxiously, her mind wandering to the son she hadn’t seen in months. The house felt quieter without Rihaan’s laughter echoing off the walls. Raj had been a constant comfort, mature beyond his years, but even he couldn’t fill the void that Rihaan left behind. A mother’s heart can never truly rest when her child is away.

“Do you think he’s okay?” she asked, breaking the silence that hung between them. Her voice was quiet, laced with an unspoken worry.

Mr. Mehra looked up from the pile of bills on the table, his face lined with exhaustion. “I’m sure he’s fine,” he replied, trying to sound reassuring. But even he wasn’t completely certain. The letters they received from Rihaan were always polite, but they were short, lacking the warmth and excitement he’d expected. Rihaan had never been one to share his emotions easily, but his brief messages made Mr. Mehra wonder if something was amiss.

“We made this choice to give him a better life,” he added, as if trying to convince himself as much as Mrs Mehra. “There’s no good school here. He deserves a real education, a chance to make something of himself.”

She nodded slowly, though her heart felt heavy. She missed him terribly. “He’s still so young,” she murmured, more to herself than to Mr. Mehra. “Eight years old and away from home. I can’t help but worry… we’re his parents; it’s our job to worry.”

*****

The weekend finally came when they could visit Rihaan at his boarding school. Mr. And Mrs. Mehra packed a small bag of his favorite snacks, sweets, and some clothes for him. They’d both been saving up for this trip, cutting back on small pleasures to afford the travel expenses. Raj, who was also eagerly looking forward to seeing his younger brother, had to stay behind due to his schoolwork.

“I’ll see him next time,” Raj insisted, his voice filled with a maturity that made his parents’ hearts ache. “I want him to have a better future. I’ll do my best here, and he’ll do his best there. He’s lucky to be able to go to a good school.” Raj’s sacrifice didn’t go unnoticed by his parents, who knew how much he missed his brother, yet supported their decision wholeheartedly.

The journey to the city was long, the road bumpy and unforgiving. Mrs. Mehra clutched the small bag of treats tightly in her lap, her mind racing with thoughts of how Rihaan might have changed since they last saw him. She hoped he’d made friends, that he was happy and thriving in his new environment. After all, it was why they’d made this decision, wasn’t it? For him to experience things he couldn’t in their small village.