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White Lilies
#WritcoStoryPrompt119
What does a white blossom symbolize? Write anything about such in a short story form.
Its 5 pm. I just had my evening coffee, wrote my last email of the day and now, just lying down on my couch. I was scrolling Instagram and in a very unusual way, I got a sudden urge to clean my wardrobe. I emptied all of my clothes, folded them in a decent way and was putting then back. Just then, I got my hands on a t-shirt with white lilies printed all over it. I held that top and a small bittersweet tear of nostalgia emerged from my eyes. I got up and held that t- shirt on me in front of the mirror and realised how much I have grown out of this tshirt and myself.
15 years earlier
"Hey! Are you coming to swim today? it's going to be fun!" Riya shouted from her window to me, Priyal, in my window.
"Wait a minute! Coming!" I shouted back.
We got done with the swimming class and we went into the changing room. That's when Riya started talking about her birthday.
"Next week is my birthday. And I have something very special planned for us. wait I will show you."
She opened her bag and got a beautiful white top out with a lot of lilies printed all over it.
I saw that and I fell in love with it.
"I am going to give this shirt to my closest friend! God, I am so excited!"
I got happier because I realised I am going to receive that top since I am her closest friend! My happiness knew no bounds.
Riya's birthday party
We all gathered to celebrate Riya's birthday. We danced, played a few games, cake cutting was done followed by snacks. And then came the moment I was most excited for.
"Now I am so excited for this! I am going to give this gift to my closest friend just because she is such a beautiful person and my life feels incomplete without her. Thank you for coming to the party. " Riya winked and said, "Everyone is going to get return gifts but she gets a special one. Okay so Please come here to my side, Aisha."
I was just about to leave my chair and go there and it suddenly hit me like a dagger that I wasn't the called one. I sat down again awkwardly and saw another girl, probably Aisha, jumping and going towards Riya and hugging her. I could feel my tears welling up but I continued to maintain a smile and kept clapping along with others.
I couldn't accept the fact the Riya chose someone that's not me as her closest friend. She probably had a lot of friends but for me, it was one and only her. Not even an enough number to label someone as close or not close.
Few minutes had passed by and by then, everyone was having their ice creams and having their group chats. I saw that brown bag left there which had that shirt. I couldn't take in the heartbreak and abandonment I felt in that moment. So I, without letting anyone know, very silently picked that bag and left the party. After stealing the shirt, I felt a bit better and told myself that I was the one who deserved it and hence, I got it. I am Riya's closest friend, nobody else.
I reached home and with immense pride, told my mom about what I did and why. Explained how I became the truest friend to Riya. But my mom didn't feel the same pride, in fact had a sympathised face with a worried look. I asked her what happened and she said-
"Beta, Riya is your closest friend but probably you are not Riya's closest friend..."
She paused and gave a sigh.
"....But you can always make so many new friends. There are- "
I didn't let her complete the sentence. I ran upto my room wailing and crying. One thing I was proud about turned to be the most disgusting thing for me. I cried really hard that night. My mom tried her best to console me and make me feel better. But nothing could stop me. I felt abandoned like garbage.
Two days passed, I didn't talk to my mom, avoided Riya in school, didn't play with her, didn't talk to her. I was at my lowest feeling extremely lonely. But then, somewhere I realised that whatever it was, stealing was never a good idea. It's so wrong. I couldn't be so selfish. So I decided that I will go and apologize to Riya and return the shirt.
I went to her door and saw it locked. I asked the watchman about it and he said that they had some family emergency and she flew back to her grandma's home. I decided that whenever she comes back, I will do it.
But, she never did.
Every passing day after that, the weight of that guilt just kept on increasing and till today, it's heavier than ever.
Riya, wherever you are, please forgive me. Please forgive me for what I did. I don't know what must have felt by Aisha and more then her, you. I didn't mean to get so selfish, but somehow I got. I am extremely sorry.
And because of this, white blossoms, lilies, which are a symbol of peace and new beginnings became a symbol of remorse, regret and guilt for me.
© punya
What does a white blossom symbolize? Write anything about such in a short story form.
Its 5 pm. I just had my evening coffee, wrote my last email of the day and now, just lying down on my couch. I was scrolling Instagram and in a very unusual way, I got a sudden urge to clean my wardrobe. I emptied all of my clothes, folded them in a decent way and was putting then back. Just then, I got my hands on a t-shirt with white lilies printed all over it. I held that top and a small bittersweet tear of nostalgia emerged from my eyes. I got up and held that t- shirt on me in front of the mirror and realised how much I have grown out of this tshirt and myself.
15 years earlier
"Hey! Are you coming to swim today? it's going to be fun!" Riya shouted from her window to me, Priyal, in my window.
"Wait a minute! Coming!" I shouted back.
We got done with the swimming class and we went into the changing room. That's when Riya started talking about her birthday.
"Next week is my birthday. And I have something very special planned for us. wait I will show you."
She opened her bag and got a beautiful white top out with a lot of lilies printed all over it.
I saw that and I fell in love with it.
"I am going to give this shirt to my closest friend! God, I am so excited!"
I got happier because I realised I am going to receive that top since I am her closest friend! My happiness knew no bounds.
Riya's birthday party
We all gathered to celebrate Riya's birthday. We danced, played a few games, cake cutting was done followed by snacks. And then came the moment I was most excited for.
"Now I am so excited for this! I am going to give this gift to my closest friend just because she is such a beautiful person and my life feels incomplete without her. Thank you for coming to the party. " Riya winked and said, "Everyone is going to get return gifts but she gets a special one. Okay so Please come here to my side, Aisha."
I was just about to leave my chair and go there and it suddenly hit me like a dagger that I wasn't the called one. I sat down again awkwardly and saw another girl, probably Aisha, jumping and going towards Riya and hugging her. I could feel my tears welling up but I continued to maintain a smile and kept clapping along with others.
I couldn't accept the fact the Riya chose someone that's not me as her closest friend. She probably had a lot of friends but for me, it was one and only her. Not even an enough number to label someone as close or not close.
Few minutes had passed by and by then, everyone was having their ice creams and having their group chats. I saw that brown bag left there which had that shirt. I couldn't take in the heartbreak and abandonment I felt in that moment. So I, without letting anyone know, very silently picked that bag and left the party. After stealing the shirt, I felt a bit better and told myself that I was the one who deserved it and hence, I got it. I am Riya's closest friend, nobody else.
I reached home and with immense pride, told my mom about what I did and why. Explained how I became the truest friend to Riya. But my mom didn't feel the same pride, in fact had a sympathised face with a worried look. I asked her what happened and she said-
"Beta, Riya is your closest friend but probably you are not Riya's closest friend..."
She paused and gave a sigh.
"....But you can always make so many new friends. There are- "
I didn't let her complete the sentence. I ran upto my room wailing and crying. One thing I was proud about turned to be the most disgusting thing for me. I cried really hard that night. My mom tried her best to console me and make me feel better. But nothing could stop me. I felt abandoned like garbage.
Two days passed, I didn't talk to my mom, avoided Riya in school, didn't play with her, didn't talk to her. I was at my lowest feeling extremely lonely. But then, somewhere I realised that whatever it was, stealing was never a good idea. It's so wrong. I couldn't be so selfish. So I decided that I will go and apologize to Riya and return the shirt.
I went to her door and saw it locked. I asked the watchman about it and he said that they had some family emergency and she flew back to her grandma's home. I decided that whenever she comes back, I will do it.
But, she never did.
Every passing day after that, the weight of that guilt just kept on increasing and till today, it's heavier than ever.
Riya, wherever you are, please forgive me. Please forgive me for what I did. I don't know what must have felt by Aisha and more then her, you. I didn't mean to get so selfish, but somehow I got. I am extremely sorry.
And because of this, white blossoms, lilies, which are a symbol of peace and new beginnings became a symbol of remorse, regret and guilt for me.
© punya
