The Torn Basket

Hello,

I’m back. I had been readin’ Harry Potter and I completed the first six books of the series within ten days. Phew! My poor arm was tired holding up those heavy books. And now I’ve written a story for you.(No magic or witchcraft in it. Just a simple poor story.)

The Torn Basket

            The sun was setting and he still had work. Today, he had caught only two tiny fish, barely enough for his children. He was Bhola, the fisherman. He said, “Being a fisherman is not easy. To cast the net, to wait for the fish the whole day and then to catch the few fish…. Hmmm…it’s really a tough job. People don’t know the difficulties we’ve to face….especially… you… the rich. I just hope now that lady luck shines on me. And I catch enough fish for us every single day.”

            Oh! There was the answer to his prayer. Bhola caught two big fish. He was happy that his family won’t starve that day. He kept all the fish in his basket and started rowing. He thought about his kid’s having a full dinner that night. Then he remembered something that had happened yesterday and Bhola felt bad. “I had scolded my son for tricking the village headman. Maybe I was a little too harsh on him. Poor boy! But I can’t believe he’d do that!”

When he reached the shore Bhola lifted the basket to go home. As he lifted it, all the fish fell back into the sea. The bottom of the basket was torn. A big wave came and washed away all the fish before he could get them back. He cried, “Oh no! Why do all unlucky things happen to me only? Tell me my lord, what did I do to anger you?” But god wouldn’t reply, and he had to go home empty handed. The poor man had to suffer.

            On his way, he kept stopping to think, “How could the basket be torn so soon? It was fine this morning.” Just then his fishing partner called out to him, “What’s keeping you? Come on Bhola, we have to leave.” And they all left along with empty-handed Bhola. 

            Once home his daughter ran up to him and said, “Father, Did you bring the fish? I’m starving.” But Bhola didn’t even look at her face. She could see his worried face as he walked into the house. He went straight to his wife who said before he replied, “Phew! I’m glad you are home. The children started crying for food sometime back. It was hard to convince them that you will be here soon with the food.” On hearing this Bhola got really very worried. His wife noticed it and said, “What’s matter? Has something been troubling you lately? You seem to be worried. And where is the fish?” Bhola said, “There is no food today. We’ll have to starve again.” “What?” asked his wife, shocked. But Bhola couldn’t answer.

            That night again, the family slept on an empty stomach. Bhola could hardly sleep. He could hear his stomach rumbling. And he laid there staring at the full moon in the dark night sky. His kids had gone to sleep with an empty stomach.

Next morning, when he woke up, he took a bath and got fresh. He found a note on the table, on which his wife who had gone to work earlier had written, “Go to the moneylender and get some money. There is not a single grain of anything in the house. Go to the market and buy…” He stared at the long list and thought “Yes! I knew I had forgotten something but I didn’t know what.” But he wondered how he would buy everything.

The money lender saw Bhola looking sad. He thought him to be sad because he was broke. And had come to borrow money which he hated doing.

Bhola bought all things after he got the money. When he reached his yard, he saw the torn basket lying near the hut. Still thinking of his son’s sad face, Bhola sat to repair the basket. Later, he was still very worried. His son began to cry again on seeing him.

He thought, “Oh! Why did I scold him? And I thought he understood that it was for his own good. I’ll ask him today to promise… Let’s see what he says.” Bhola called his crying son to him and said to him gently “Don’t cry my boy. I scolded you for your own good. Tricking the village head man is not good. You must respect him.” Hearing this, his son kept quiet for a moment and then howled as loud as ever. Before Bhola could say a word to console him, out came a downpour of words from his son “Father… Sob…I’m so sorry…huh… I t-tore your basket. I was… so angry with you because you scolded me. Sniff… I d-didn’t realize that we all would have to starve. Boooo Hoooo!”

Bhola was very shocked. Oh no! To think that his son had torn his fish basket! Because of that they had to starve for a whole day.

He grabbed his son and hugged him with tears in his eyes. Bhola was a wise man. He knew his son had learnt his lesson the hard way.

 

 B-bye,

Rupashri