Short Story - A PLATE OF ORANGES!

It was three days since Hari came to school and his best friends Gokul, Adhitya and Prathak were curious. ‘It is not as if Hari would take so many days off unless he is sick or something,’ said Prathak.

‘Hari is unwell and is advised bed rest at home,’ said their teacher when they asked her.

‘Let’s ask permission at our homes and call on Hari,’ said Gokul. ‘After all he’s our best friend and we should keep him abreast of what is happening in class when he’s not around.’

That evening the three friends gathered as planned outside the fruit stall from where they could walk to Hari’s house together. ‘Friends, let’s pool in some money and buy some oranges for Hari,’ said Gokul. ‘Mother says that when we call on sick or old people we should never go empty handed.’

‘Agreed!’, chipped in Prathak. ‘Also, Hari’s is not a er...rich family. His parents might find it hard to buy him things.’

They bought some oranges in a packet and walked to Hari’s house. Hari’s mother welcomed them at the door. ‘Hari is feeling so bored lying in bed the whole day. I am sure he will be very happy to see you,’ she said. ’Go right into his room while I get you something to drink.’ As the children chattered excitedly in the next room, Hari’s mother quickly peeled the oranges they had brought and put them in three plates. She made cold buttermilk and poured it out in three glasses.

‘These children have brought home some fruits. But we have nothing to offer them other than this buttermilk and fruits,’ she thought to herself. She went to Hari’s bedroom and put the glasses of buttermilk and three plates of oranges on the side table.

‘Eat the fruits as you talk,’ she advised them kindly and left the room.

‘Thank you, Aunty ‘said the three boys as they took the glasses of cold buttermilk and drank them up.

A few minutes later Gokul came into the kitchen with a plate of oranges. ‘Aunty, Adhitya and Prathak have eaten their oranges. But I find mine a little sour. So if you don’t mind, I would rather not eat them,’ he said and put the full plate of oranges on the counter. When it was time for them to leave, Hari’s mother came to see them off. As the door to the bedroom shut, Gokul heard Hari whisper to his mother, ‘Mother, I feel hungry and a little weak. Do you have some of those oranges my friends brought?’ Hari’s mother signaled him to be quiet and saw his friends off.

‘Oh my dear!’ said his mother, closing the door behind her. ‘I had nothing to offer those children. So I served them all the oranges and there is none left..! Hmmm…let me see if I can get something else for you to eat’.

Hari’s mother hurried into the kitchen. She noticed the plate of oranges that Gokul had returned without eating. ‘Gokul said they were sour. Surely Hari can’t eat them’. She opened some containers to see if there was anything  else that she could give Hari to eat. But they were empty. She took the plate of oranges and went to Hari’s room. ‘Hari, there’s nothing left for you other than these sour oranges. Eat a bit and see if you can relish it’.

‘Oh, mother, you know sour oranges make me cough’ said Hari. Nevertheless he took a small piece and bit into it. His expression soon changed into delight!

‘Mother, who said it’s sour?’ exclaimed Hari. ‘It’s very juicy and sweet. I could have the whole lot. I wonder why Gokul had said that the oranges were sour!’

‘Gokul was very thoughtful and kind, my child. Surely the oranges would not have been sour.

Gokul must have felt that you must have your share and so left them behind for you,’ said Hari’s mother as she tenderly watched her son enjoying the plate of oranges.