barter system

“How long were you in the queue?”

“we had to queue up for an hour for the grocery”

as long as we know that small shop only sells food and other things used in the home, so you are here for some grocery?what you are going to buy?

“some dreams!”

“dreams? at grocery store?”

“yeah”

“are you mad?”

No!

“your noisy child have need some attention could you pay some attention? why he is making noise?”



“I know..”

“what do you know? your child is starving!”

“He’s off his food”

“how you will pay the grocery bill? as you are skint!”

“Don’t interfere in what doesn’t concern you”

“It concerns me that you no longer seem to care”

(she went quiet)

“you tried to turn your dream of running your own business into reality?”

(but I conceded that my teasing is getting beyond a joke as she did not get the joke)

“I dreamt that I got the world”

“world? you mean this world? Trust you to dream up a crazy idea like this!”

“Maybe!”

“are you crazy?”

“I don’t know, but only thing i know that I’m a mother and being a mother I feel a strong sense of responsibility towards my children!”

“your responsibility being a mother is a different story but I remembered you were talking about your dreams!”

“both are exactly the same”

“how?”

(she were quiet)

“what do you do for living? do you have enough money to pay the grocery Bill? I can lend you some money till tomorrow!”

“sorry I haven’t need!”

“you have a lot of money to spend?”

“maybe..”

(I saw her clenched fist, she won’t drop a coin. it seems, she is having a power in her clenched fist!)

do you want come to power?

“I won’t political control of a country or an area, I won’t power or to seize anything. I won’t rule the earth or world! I have little and small dreams!
It is not within my power to help myself! I suppose we should be grateful for small mercies”


“Why don’t you work?”

“No, I don’t work, my husband has passed away last week I don’t know exactly how we’ll manage it, but we will, somehow”

(she started to weep uncontrollably)

“Oh sorry to hear! I just can understand!”

“his sudden death dealt a blow to the whole family
I don’t know how to deal with issues and problems but I have to manage all that without him”


(She struggled hard to control her unruly emotions)


“Please pay some attention to your child, Small children have a very short attention span.”


(she went quiet. her body were covered with weeping sores. she’s seem deserving pity and sympathy!)

“your child making a lot of noise, he looked half starved, I know the people
they provided food and shelter for the poor, you should go and see them!”

(she were not supposed to listen more as she passed me in the store without even saying bye)

“What do want?”
(store keeper asked the woman behind the counter)

(her child was still making lots of noise, he was starved)

“some milk!”

“do you have some money?”

(she looked around, there were not any body, only i was standing in the store and the distance was not measured in miles!)

“yeah!”
(she saw her clenched fist)

“that only coin u have?”

“yes!”

“sorry but it’s not enough to get some milk”

“Listen, my child is starved”

“then?”

“I need some milk!”

“madam, a thing that is worth, you have to pay money for it”

“I will pay later”
“when?”
“soon!”

“Are you paying in cash or by credit card?”

(He burst out laughing)

“Will your dad lend you the money?’ ‘Don’t make me laugh!”

“Please try to understand, my child needs some milk”

‘Oh, you poor thing.’
“I haven’t money at the moment but..”
“you are in financial difficulties, that coin you are having in clenched fist It isn’t worth much but i know how much is this body worth?”

(He whispered)

“What do you mean?” she was stunned

“You know what I mean! This idea is well worth considering!
your child is really hungry!”


that poor lady were quiet!
“Keep the door closed! store will not open for a period of time for the public!”

store keeper looked at me and i moved quietly!

  • nigelnash

    nigelnash

    wow !..............moving .

  • Ushna Sardar replied

    thanks nigel my friend! long time no see you! how have you been my friend? huggles

  • Gregory John O'Flaherty
  • Ushna Sardar replied

    thanks Greg my friend! yeah its sad but .. its reality! huggles my friend

  • Sally Omar

    Sally Omar

    Ushna, What an amazing collaboration….both you and Shree are so very talented…BRAVO
    TO YOU BOTH…Love & Hugs, Sally xxxxxooooo

  • Ushna Sardar replied

    thank you so much Sal! especially for fav! you are such a sweetheart! huggles n love xoxoxoxox

  • kamel

    kamel

    a political humanitary story

  • Ushna Sardar replied

    thank you Kamel! long time no see you! how have you been? good to see you :) huggles my friend

  • Romo

    Romo

    wow…very emotive piece Ushna…well done:)

  • Ushna Sardar replied

    thanks Robin! you are such a sweetheart! huggles and love xoxoxox

  • Shree

    Shree

    It touched my heart directly…..well with your great command on your words you can surely make someone cry as well as laugh…i guess you did a wonderful job giving my painting full justice and i am glad that you selected my artwork for your story telling. Thanks a lot Ushna for all your favours and help…i will always be grateful for the love shown to my artstyle. Good luck and have some wonderful time ahead.

  • Ushna Sardar replied

    Shree my friend! thank you so much! glad you liked! it means a lot! you are very talented artist! so nice of you thanks for all kind words! huggles my friend

  • theyellowfury

    theyellowfury

    I’m really impressed Ushna, bravo.

  • Ushna Sardar replied

    long time S! didn’t see you and your new work! hope u been good! good to see u my friend! thank you so much! glad ypu liked! it means a lot! huggles my friend

  • barnsis

    barnsis

    Wow, sad but true it does happen when the milk could have just been given, why do some poeple have to make life hard for others.

  • Ushna Sardar replied

    thank you so much my friend byron! i agree! yeah it happens unfotunately! hope one day we will see some miracle! appreciate your precious comments my friend! huggles

  • kamel

    kamel

    I still here I wrote a lot but nobody read it
    I don’t want to write so much comments about the others
    depends of the mood of my day
    thanks for your word

  • Ushna Sardar replied

    Sorry my friend, not been around for a while so couldn’t see much your work and comments on! but i have seen few and i left comments! you are talented writer so never give up my friend! we want to read you! please carry on writing! we are here to read your written work! stay in touch! huggles my friend

  • kamel

    kamel

    I’m not inspired theses days maybe It will come but thanks very much
    for the encouragements thanks

  • Ushna Sardar replied

    yeah i understand kamel sometimes i dont feel creative! it happens with writer ans also with artist! hope you feel creative soon .. many blessings for u my friend! have a nice weekend :)

  • linaji

    linaji

    We will see miracles with Women like you. as YOU ARE A MIRACLE!! well done my dar.. HUGS AND BIG SMOOCH!!

  • Ushna Sardar replied

    thank you so much sweet lina! you are sweetheart! appreciate your precious comments! huggles n love! xoxoxoxoxox

  • Andrew  Wakelin

    Andrew Wakelin

    A story so captivating and engaging that when I looked up after finishing it, it took me a while to remember where I was!

  • Ushna Sardar replied

    thank you so much Andrew! yeah unfortunately thats reality of this world and it happens! appreciate your comments, it means a lot!
    stay happy and be good my friend

Add your comment

You need to login or signup to add your comment to this work.