𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙥𝙞𝙚𝙘𝙚 | 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚

Chapter 1

Important author note at end
★★★★★
Nandini and Navya, two young artists shared a small flat. The flat was on the third storey of an old building.
It was an building where all the struggling artists lived together.
Nandini fell seriously ill in November. She had pneumonia. She would lie in her bed without moving, just gazing out of her window. Navya, her friend, became very worried. She sent for the doctor. Although the doctor came everyday, there was no change in Nandini's condition.
One day the doctor took Navya aside and asked her, "Is something worrying Nandini?" "No" replied Navya. "But why do you ask?" The doctor said, "Nandini, it seems has made up her mind that she is not gonna get well. If she doesn't wanna live, medicines won't help her."
Navya tried her best to make Nandini take an interest in things around her. She talked about clothes and fashions, but Nandini didn't respond. Nandini continued to lie still in her bed. Navya brought her drawing board into Nandini's room and started painting. To take Nandini's mind off her illness, she whistled while working.
Suddenly Navya heard Nandini whisper something. She quickly rushed to the bed and heard Nandini counting backwards. She was looking out of the window and saying, " Twelve!" After sometime she whispered, "Eleven", then "Ten" , then"Nine" , "Eight" , "Seven". Navya anxiously looked out of the window. She saw an old ivy- creeper was shedding it's leaves.
"What is it dear?" asked Navya.
"Six" whispered Nandini "They are falling faster now. Three days ago there were hundred leaves. There are only five left now."
"It is autumn" said Navya " and the leaves will fall."
"When the last leaf falls, I will die" said Nandini with finality. "I have known this for last three days."
"Oh! That's nonsense", replied Navya "What have old ivy-leaves to do with your getting well? The doctor is confident that you will get better."
Nandini didn't say anything. Navya went and brought her a bowl of soup.
"I don't want any soup," said Nandini. "I'm not hungry. Now there are only four leaves left. I want to see the last one fall before it gets dark. Then I will sleep forever."
Navya sat on Nandini's bed, kissed her forehead and said, "You are not going to die, I can't close the curtains for I need the light. I want to finish the painting and get some money for us. Please my dear sister," she begged Nandini "promise not to look out of the window while I paint."
"Alright, " said Nandini "finish your painting soon for I want to see the last leaf fall. I'm tired of waiting. I've to die so let me go away peacefully like one of those poor, tired leaves."
"Try to sleep," said Navya. " I've to paint a miner. I will call Manik to be my model." Navya rushed down. Manik lived on the ground floor.
He was a 23-year old painter. His lifelong dream was a masterpiece but that had remained a dream. Navya poured out her worries to Manik. She told him how Nandini was convinced that she would die when the last leaf fell.
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This story is inspired by The Last Leaf, one of my favourite short stories.
Okay people, I've written the first chapter, do tell me how you like it. And please shower your love on it by commenting and voting it. And I believe it's a big chapter of 500+ words.
Lots of love ❤️
Riddhi