Crossroads - Conclusion

(Contd.)

A little longer and both would be free. His mother’s face floated in front of his mind’s eye. How she used to love and cherish him! What pride she had in her lalla!

Raju didn’t realize what forced him to suddenly rise and run towards the old man. His body seemed to be doing it out of habit, but he had already started pulling the contraption back with all his strength. The old man had fainted with fright, so he couldn’t see the boy battling rain and slime to pull him out of the sliding chair into his arms.

With a jerk, he yanked his crippled grand uncle out of the wheelchair. And in time too! Free of weight, it hurtled down the edge with sickening speed.

Crash!! Raju was too busy nursing his uncle and bringing him back to his senses to have noticed the distant sound below him.

And along with that went his chance of escaping this life of drudgery too. What had pushed him to come to his tormentor’s aid? Was it the desperation in the old man’s eyes, or had his frantic screams brought back memories of his mother’s last days? Was it the fact that he simply responded to a human crying out for help? Or maybe he was afraid of losing the single person on earth who still needed him?

Later people would say, the servant boy displayed the generosity and largeness of heart that his rich grand uncle couldn’t show in his lifetime.

But Raju was at peace that he hadn't betrayed his mother's faith in him. His strength of character was still intact. For now, this would be enough for him to carry on.

Concluded.

Pebbles in the Sand

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