Piggy Bank

A Short Story By G.S.Vasukumar

Gokul opened his eyes, had a glance at the clock on the table next to the bed. It showed 12.30 am. He saw Krishna, his elder brother of ten years old standing near the window of their bedroom. He was staring at the moonlit sky.

“Aren’t you getting sleep?” Gokul asked looking at him.

Krishna looked at his younger brother of eight years, with tears in his eyes.

“Is something wrong?” Gokul asked pulling off the blanket, getting out of the bed and walking towards his brother.

“Grandpa is terribly sick, I overheard mother telling father that it would be better if he dies soon” Krishna replied wiping his tears with his fist “You know, how much I love him, I can’t see him suffer like this. It is hurting me a lot”

“Me too” Gokul said“Let us take him to the hospital tomorrow” Krishna said holding his piggy bank in his hand.

“But you were saving money for buying bicycle, isn’t it?” Gokul asked

“Yeah, I know” He replied “But nothing is greater than grandpa”

“I agree with you” He said

Next morning, after both their parents left for work, Krishna brought an auto. They both took their grandpa to the hospital. They waited for their turn to come.

Later, the doctor examined the old man. He told the boys that they had brought him in the right time and that he should be admitted in the hospital for a few days.

“Doctor Uncle, please take all the money in this piggy bank and save our grandpa” Krishna said giving the piggy bank to the doctor.

“Son, I fear that this money may not be enough for the treatment and medication. It is expensive” The doctor said looking at them.

“Doctor Uncle, I’ll repay the balance amount when I grow up and start earning” Krishna said “I promise you!”

“Me too” Gokul said The doctor had a drop of tear in his eye, as he looked at the kids.“Seema, please admit him in the ward and start this medication” The doctor said giving her a slip.

“What about the payment, doctor?” She asked

“Tell them to bill it in my name.” He replied giving back the piggy bank to Krishna. “Remember your promise” He added smiling at them.

“Sure, doctor uncle” They said together.

Later in the evening, when the parents came back home, they found the kids and the old man were missing from home. They started searching for them, but couldn’t find them anywhere. They returned back home when the telephone started ringing. It was from that hospital. They reached the hospital.

“What happened to our kids?” Sanjana asked

“Nothing happened to your kids” The doctor replied

The doctor explained them everything while taking them to the ward.

“I’m very sorry, father” Rahul said holding his old father’s hand. A drop of tear from his eye landed on his father’s hand.

The End