Moonlight Road

Reshma after the day-long work in the nearby city returned to her hut.

She on the way home had been to the weekly market along the stale river that followed the road.

Brought some small size green bangles for her mother and few kilos of hay concentrates for the horse; Bhellu, and went inside to prepare a meal.

“The fields have been ploughed”, said Rajesh. The only son of Reshma.

Rajesh sat on the cot in the veranda of the hut. Rajesh had this routine to eat his food in the moonlight under the naked sky.

Reshma yelled and called for Rajesh, it was her mother who had a burning body and sweaty forehead

“Take Bhellu and bring the doctor from the city as fast as possible”, ordered Reshma.

Rajesh in his white pajamas and checked sweater left for the city on the road by the river which has an end and it was right in the mist of the great moon down the road.

Mother moans and groans, “Reshma it’s so early!”

Reshma confused ran up and down the rug in the hut, she came up with an idea to carry her on the shoulders for the few distant.

Mother wrapped in the bed mattress, few meters on the right and few on the left shoulder.

Few miles into the dark night Reshma all tired and was unable to carry mother any further, so she sat on the side of the road with empty land on one side and a stale river on the other.

She waited, waited and waited for Rajesh to come in with the doctor.

One hour past the moon and there were no signs of Rajesh.

Poor mother moans “Are there stars in the heaven?”.

“There are stars in heaven”, cries Reshma, “he will be back again.” More one hour passes it's twelve I reckon and is getting cold and cold. Reshma in her own sorrow of Rajesh not returning back.

The time was on the clock of one, but neither the doctor nor Rajesh returned.

“I have to go and find for Rajesh,” said Reshma.

“oh god, “mother with the most upset eyes.

“what do I do for you? how can I care for you?”, asked Reshma.

“there’s nothing to be done that would ease my pain!” cried Mother.

“Please spare my mother’s life till I’m back”, prayed Reshma.

Through the moonlight road she ran which has an end and it was right in the mist of the great moon down the road.