Sketchstory No. 35 - 'A Prayer for Dev' by Farida Khan

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"Are you sure, darling?"asked Nirupama. “Yes, amma”, uttered Kavya. Nirupama lovingly ran her fingers through her daughter's pretty ponytails and whispered in Kavya's ear, "nothing at all? I am going to the market. Just name it and I will get it.“ Kavya looked at her mother's beauteous face and commanded, ”AMMA, I don't want anything, am I clear?” Nirupama dissimulated to get vexed. 


“Amma, you are a very bad actress,” chortled Kavya and instantly mother and daughter burst into laughing which filled the whole room ….just as the the rays of dawn spreads and illuminates the earth. Nirupama hugged her daughter. “Okay dear, then I am going….you complete your English homework. Appa will reach home soon…..okay laado…” Kavya grinned and nodded her head. Happiness has always been a mother daughter time. Kavya always wondered whether she loved her mother more or her mother loved her more.


Let me read my Literature lesson first. Kavya liked her English teacher- Mrs Bency and always tried to impress her by being regular in her assignments. 'The New Bicycle'.....this seems to be interesting, speculated Kavya and started reading. Suddenly, Kavya's eyes got stuck at one word …Dev...Dev...Dev. Tears started rolling down her cheeks. The cheerful face which was glowing with joy just a few minutes ago grew wistful. Kavya sobbed bitterly. She put her head on her study table as she went into flashback.


“Kavya, you won't forget me, no?" confirmed Dev with a heavy voice and tearful eyes. Dev was her best friend at the orphanage. Whenever she was sad, he would always comfort her. ’Kavya, don't worry, I have a direct connection with bhagwan and I have told him that Kavya is special and she should live the life of a princess. Amused by his silly talk, she used to wipe her tears and ask him…."so what did bhagwan reply?” Then Dev would raise his right hand palm and say loudly, “TATHASTU”. And then both would have a hearty laugh.


The day Amma and Appa had come to adopt Kavya, Dev was heartbroken but susurrated…."see I told you I had direct connection with bhagwan.”


“Hey bhagwan, can't you give one Amma and Appa to Dev also? He is special. Let him also live a prince’s life,” Kavya closed her eyes and prayed.

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