SHORT STORY

Two brothers, Ravi and Vijay, were living with their parents in a village. As they were very rich, the family decided to go on a vacation in summer to Kullu Manali. While playing in a stream in Kullu Manali, Ravi suddenly went missing. Vijay and his parents searched for Ravi for three days but to no avail. They returned home with dejected faces.

A Few Years Later…

A stranger came to the village. He entered Vijay’s home and claimed, “I am Ravi.”

Everybody was shocked and stared at him.

Vijay and his parents went to ask him, “Are you really Ravi?”

He said, “Yes. I got separated from my parents and brother on a trip in Kullu Manali.”

The family all felt happy that their lost son returned.

A Few More Years Later…

Raju and Vijay studied well and secured great jobs. Their parents were proud of them. But suddenly, one day Ravi confessed to his parents that the real Ravi had died. He explained, “Ravi had died trying to save me on the trip. I was knee-deep in water and slipped on the rocks. Ravi saw me and rescued me, but a sudden current took him away.”

He continued, “My actual name is Raju.” Raju felt very guilty.

The parents’ heart broke. They went into their rooms. But a few hours later, the parents and Vijay came out. They didn’t scold him or send him out. The mother said, “It’s okay. You have been our son for years and you will be our son forever.”

They forgot that an accident ever happened and treated Raju as their own. They happily lived ever after.

by

Gayathri Pamarthi

Class IX

Written in March 2024