Unanswered Wish.

Today while searching for my certificate amidst my old documents, I came across a folded piece of paper. The paper was folded in half and was yellowed which denoted the earlier times from where it belonged. I was in hurry of finding the certificate but the paper had an alluring charm to it and I was soon attracted to the paper. Even though the paper had turned crisp and delicate, the ink was clearly visible on that paper even without opening it. Some of the places had smudges which showed the overwriting at those places.

I picked up the paper and started unfurling it. I opened it up, slowly and carefully while my work was left abandoned and forgotten. The paper opened without any strain and presented in front of me hundreds of memories descending down from those words written years ago.

The paper was a torn sheet from a child’s notebook. There was nothing special about that paper except the words written on them. On that paper, a child had scribbled some words in childish handwriting. I was unable to decipher the words at a single glance but when I tried to look more deeply, I started to recognize what it was.

It was my letter; my letter to god. In this letter, I had requested something to god. My letter went this way:

Dear God,

I know that you are very busy, but will you please please please listen to me. I am a good boy. I won’t fight for remote with didi anymore. I will give up my candies which I had saved, I will start sharing my ice cream with whoever you will say, I will do anything you ask me to do. Please listen to me. This time I am not writing for that special game set that I demanded last year, this time I am serious. God ji, please help my papa. He is very ill. Today I heard my mother talking to doctor that he won’t be able to survive from this disease. I don’t know which disease he has but you are god and you know everything. Please cure my papa. Mere papa ko thik kar do. Please.

Rohan

These were the words written on that yellowed page. I folded the page as it was and wiped my tears. I still remember the day clearly. I always used to write my wishes to god and put them under my pillow. The letters used to vanish the next night and my wishes used to get answered if they were genuine. That night too I put this paper, and the next day two news welcomed me. First one was that the letter hadn’t vanished and second that my father was no more. That day I cried endlessly. I balled my letter and threw it. That day I lost my faith on god and worked very hard to snatch everything I wanted for myself. And today I am a successful man but still that wish hurts me.

I opened my letter again and started to read it again. The words were same except the line below my signature. I easily recognised my mother’s handwriting. Scribbled below my letter were these words:

The god might not answer your letter today because he himself is struggling for his life today.

Fresh tears started streaming down my face.