True Life

Since everyone is writing stories about childhoods and bullying, why not me.

This is a true story.

Ananth was born on a rainy day in September. It was a long and painful delivery.

His parents had longed for this child. They had spent hours talking about what it would be like to finally hold him in their arms, had bought tiny clothes and repainted their one-room flat.

But his mother was not allowed to experience the sweet reward of holding her child, watch him breathe, feel his soft skin and show off to visitors after he was born. The doctors and her family had to defer this event for a few days, to prepare her for the shock.

Ananth was born with a cleft palate. (contd. below)