Not a straight line!

He had grown rich and was now a famous artist. He had a comfortable life and was going the family way. His wife was pregnant, and he thought her love was different. He was told how excited she was every time she felt a kick in her womb, though he didn’t feel that same excitement himself. He saw that every time the foetus moved, she loved it more. Even his old parents wished for the grandchild moment when they would finally hold the bundle of joy for the first time. Soon, a healthy girl was born, and life went on.

 

He barely had any time for his family, and many other unwanted priorities took over him.   When he saw that his five year old girl could never draw a straight line he wished she had genetically inherited his and his father’s artistry. He also believed he was not strict enough and had already concluded that the little girl was no good, not artistic enough!

 

His wife reminded him how his father had practiced painting and spent a lot of time encouraging and teaching him as a child to paint too and consequently he went on to become a renowned painter that his father wished that his only son would similarly carry on and pass down the life skills and art to the next generation. His daughter was so little and with no guidance to draw.

 

Some years later his daughter got ill and breathed slowly on the hospital bed.  He went to visit her. As she drew oxygen from the ventilator, he begged his stars that she make another zigzag line on the ECG, wished its never a straight line but a crooked one!!

His father came to bid goodbye to his wonderful granddaughter and tried to console him, but it was very late. “I gave my time to painting and my life teaching you and being there for you, how did you lose the future of your child and your art to nothing my son”… his father cried.

                                                Not a straight line!

Author's Note

First short story, learning to write and looking forward to your reviews and any corrections and suggestions.

Reviews

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

this is a very bleak morality tale. it speaks to us stating that a child needs to be loved and accepted first, before being educated. that family tradition should not come before a child's health and happiness. children need freedom and play, not to be indoctrinated. it's a hard-hitting work, but it has an ethos that urgently needs to be proliferated.

[Aarti Sriram]

Thankyou @Ern for your supportive review. Yes, we must try and nurture childrens emotional health. And be their psychological support. Even before formal education starts we need to show them continued love and acceptance for who they naturally are, for those are the foundation for their healthy development and learning.

[Mako Silverfire]

I like how you wrote around the straight line as a form of regret for the father. It was a cool way to showcase the little things in life matter the most

[Aarti Sriram]

Hi, @Mako Silverfire, thankyou for stopping by. Glad to note it interested you. Little things ya as u say make up all that is big and impactul in our lives.

[Jeyanthi]

We believe in our inheritance more than our own children, sometimes God just has other plans... sad and thought provoking write...
Keep writing!

[Aarti Sriram]

Thankyou Jeyanthi for sharing your thoughts and a positive review.
Sometimes we take life and our loved ones for granted. Forget our blessings and sadly replace our happiness in the wait for something else...

[Jeyanthi]

Yeah dear... they said "time is precious, yes we must respect and value our time how we spent for what and for whom..."
Your story is touching. Gratitude and be grateful gives not only peace but also gives us some feelings of reality.