One Last Wish

"I will not live for many days.I would like to see my long lost son before I die." said the old man on his death bed in his hut.

"But how can we find him?" asked Sathya, his neighbour and fellow villager, "It's been a long time since he was lost in the village fair."

"Also we don't know for sure whether he is alive or not?" said Somu.

"But atleast we can try." said Gangamma.

"Why not we print an advertisement in the newspaper with his childhood photograph?" suggested Govind, "By the way, I am going to the town this afternoon. I'll give it so that it could appear in the tomorrow's newspaper."

"Good idea!" said Gangamma.

"Yes." said the old man taking it and giving it to him.

"I think this shall do." said Govind having a look at it.

Some of the villagers waited for the bus from the town, under the shade of the banyan tree.They hoped that the old man's son might get down from the bus along with the other passengers. Days went on like this.

"How long can I wait for him?" said the old man depressed.

"We've tried our best to trace him.We had even spread a word about him in the neihbouring villages too." said Somu.

Then one afternoon the sun was burning like a red ball of fire in the sky.The sky was clear.Not even a single cloud was in sight.A stranger got down from the town us.The curious villagers rushed towards him.

"Are you Ramu?" They asked in chorus.

"Yes,Where is my father? Please take me to him!" He answered.

They were very glad at last.They lead him to the old man's hut.Soon the word spread like the forest fire around the village.The entire village gathered outside the old man's hut.

"Son, I'm so glad to see you again." said the old man with tears overflowing from his eyes.

"Me too, father." He replied holding the old man's hands together.

"...and now I can die peacefully." said the old man taking in his last breath.

By dusk the body was buried in the fields in the outskirts of the village.

"Thank you for coming and fulfilling the old man's last wish." said the villagers gratefully to him, as they left.

"Now his soul would rest in peace." said Somu, "Thanks for coming."

"It's ok." He said, "I wonder what happen to his real son?"

"No one knows." said Somu with a sigh.

The End