One picture, a thousand stories-Wk17

Hello..!!
My Dear Friends,
I am @storytan
I like to write about anything.

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Hello my dear steemit friends . I hope you are all well by the grace of Allah, I am also well Alhamdulillah. Wishing all the members of this community are having a great day. Today I’m here to participate in the contest.I really like participating in such contests. I am very happy to get such a beautiful contest. So I am participating in this beautiful contest as a contestant. so let's start........

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One picture, a thousand stories-Wk17

The late afternoon sun has set. The western sky is red with fire, the birds are returning to their homes. On such a tired afternoon, Ratna Begum is walking slowly. She has passed seventy-five years of age, yet her feet still carry her silently, along the city sidewalks.

She has worked in three houses all day. Running around since seven in the morning—somewhere washing dishes, somewhere washing clothes, somewhere cooking. Sometimes it is difficult to breathe, but after a cup of tea she has to keep going. Ratna Begum knows that if she stops walking, her crippled son and daughter-in-law sitting at home will not be able to put food in their mouths. And the most important thing—her little granddaughter Nurjahan, whose cheerful smile makes all her fatigue disappear.

She has not rested even once after finishing today's work. In her hand is an old cloth bag, where there is a small hole sewn on a piece of Kantha cloth. Holding that bag, she entered the neighborhood's Manu grocery store.

The shop is not very big, but Manu is very sincere with all the shopkeepers. Seeing Ratna Begum, he said,
“Auntie, today? You have been struggling since morning. You should have rested a little today.”

Ratna Begum said with a tired smile, “Manu, Nurjan is at home, I can’t rest at the end of the day without a smile on her face. She said she will eat khichuri today. Give me some rice, dal and oil, and yes, I will keep a small chocolate.”

Manu calculated—one kilogram of rice, half a kilogram of dal, mustard oil in a small bottle, and a small chocolate. In total, one hundred and twenty-five taka. He took out a few ten-taka notes tied in a thick cloth kept in his bag. Finally, as he took out a five-taka coin, the cloth tore and his hand slipped out. He said with a light smile, “This bag also seems to have become like me one day—it can’t hold everything anymore.”

Manu also laughed and said, “If you have a strong mind like yours, how can you not survive in a bag, aunt!”

As soon as she left the shop, evening fell. The lights were shining like fireflies in the sky. As she walked, Ratna Begum thought to herself—“I have no one in this city, yet it is as if the whole world is inside my small house. A sick son, a depressed wife, and a child’s smile—this is my kingdom.”

Returning home, her granddaughter’s eyes sparkled with happiness.

“Grandpa! Did you bring chocolate?”

Ratna Begum smiled and said, “No, this is magic chocolate. Only those who kiss Grandpa get to eat it.”

Her granddaughter ran over and kissed her cheek. The warmth of that kiss melted all the fatigue of the day. The night’s khichdi was cooked on Mamata’s lap. Everyone ate it together. There is no royalty in the food, but the scent of love fills the surroundings.

When the night is deep, the son falls asleep, the granddaughter rests her head on his chest and falls asleep. And Ratna Begum sits in a corner, carrying a bag of love in her hand. Her body is tired, but her mind is calm. Her whole life is like a bag—torn, old, yet full of love.

The end.

This story is not just about an old woman—it is a reflection of millions of mothers, who, despite being destitute, return home every day with the fullness of love. Those whom society does not count, yet in whose hands lives a living kingdom called the world.

I will like to invite my friends @imohmitch @mrpeng @davidmarkgeorge
Cc:
@steemkidss
@ngoenyi
@goodybest
@bossj23

Thank you so much for reading my post. Tell me how you liked the poems and stories I have written through the comments. I hope you enjoyed reading the poems and stories I have written. Thanks again everyone, stay well.

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◦•●◉✿ Thank You ✿◉●•◦

Best Regards
@storytan