SHORT STORY

Once there was a kid who had dreamt nothing at any night. One day a sage appeared and asked the little boy, “What’s deep in your heart?”

“Nothing,” replied the boy.

Sage asked him another question, “Whom do you love dearly?”

“My elder brother.”

“Do you really think you love him?”

“Yes.”
The sage looked up and said, “Reveal his heart! Now!”

“Sacrifice.” The little boy said, “Sacrifice for peace, equality, and love.”

“Is it the only reason you love him?

“No. The reason for my loving him is his true love towards society and humanity.”

“How do you think your brother has true love towards humanity?”

Tears rolled down from the little boy’s eyes. “He sacrificed his life to stop a war, all by himself. He surrendered to the enemies and saved 17 of our citizens.”

The sage came closer and gave a warm hug to the little boy. “My child, now you have found the thing deep in your heart—your true love towards your brother.”

Then the sage left.

For a surprise, that night, the little boy saw his brother in his dream.

by

Siddharth Shyam Dokula

Class IX

Written in February 2024