Annayya! You lost much in your life because of your ideas. The light of your life seems to be moving towards the west. Your friends stopped away long ago. They are enjoying benefits more than they deserve. What you have done so far is enough. It is the youth who have to do what you have yet to do. The youth will do it. You know that I do not live long. Won’t you fulfil my last wish?” Prameela was sobbing….

Ramesh felt heavy at heart … His voice stuck.

There was silence in the hospital room…. Prameela was on the bed. Ramesh was sitting on a stool by her bed.

Ramesh wiped his sister’s eyes.

“Prameela! Don’t say so. You will certainly live. Despondency is not good. Self-confidence has the ability to cure diseases also.”

“Annayya! Don’t change the topic. I know what all the doctor told me. I am not worried about myself. It is about you. You have sacrificed for me and for our family. You must stop your sacrifices…”

“Pramee! Do you know that some stars show the way by their brightness when there is no moonlight? When there is moonlight the stars are not seen. In the same manner some flowers blossom in the night and wither away and drop off by dawn. Some blossom in the morning and wither by afternoon. You don’t know how much I feel pained at your life, which lighted three lives, getting snuffed out…. I don’t have time to think about myself. I wish that time should pass off without worrying me.”

“Annayya! I have known what death is have been confined to this bed for two months. I don’t have any worry about my- self. My mind is very calm and screne now. I am far younger than you. Yet I will ask you a question. Suppose you learn that you were going to die this minute. What will you do? Do that something now. The sacrifices you made and the ideas you cherished should not punish you. That’s what you think!”

“Pramee! What’s meant by life? What’s the use of asking this question when the entire life has been lived? This question does not face us so long as we are alive. Is it not strange?”

“Pramee! Why do you feel sorry that I lost much in my life and that my life went waste? That’s your idea … I received more than what I lost in life. Your love for me is many times more than what I did. Give me the chance to feel satisfied that I did not get defeated in life but that I gained high place in life.”

"Annayya! If you utter such expressions I will not ask you anything." She stared into her brother's eyes. Her eyes became brimful with tears. Her eyelids dropped. Tears rolled down her cheeks. Past memories flashed in her mind….

Will man envy the sacrifices which he does not like? Will that envy manifest itself in pity and sympathy!

For the first time Prameela entertained a doubt. Her brother Ramesh had done much for the family. He did much for the society also. He took part in different types of movements. He led many movements being at the forefront.

As soon as a movement took a constructive shape he would quietly get out of the competition for leadership.

It was not his nature to fight for a place in leadership. It was most natural for him to quit from the arena. He would then make a path for himself to his own liking.

He did not like to win Rajyam in a contest. He felt it infrading to win her hand by contesting for her love. He converted his love and liking for her into old indifference. Rajyam could not express her love. On the other hand she murmured that 'annayya' stopped loving her. She found fault with him. She said that she loved Lakshman who competed with Praveen. She married Lakshman.

From then Ramesh lost all interest towards any competition including competitive examinations. He was satisfied with the unexpected job he got and brought them up to a decent level.

~*~

Her brother's words were echoing again and again in the depths of her heart. She slept off for a long time.

It was night. She opened her eyes slowly.

Her brother was looking at her. He smiled on observing his sister open her eyes. She picked up courage.

"Annayya ….. you said you wouldn’t marry till I got married. I got married. You again said that the younger sister also should get married. She too got married. She has now two children. Everyone is afraid to ask you. Tell me, Annayya, why you are not marrying?"

"Pramee! I don't think that marriage is the most important thing in life."

"You gave up marrying talking of the marriages of your sisters, the dowries, their deliveries and other expenses."

"It’s not like that"

"Are you disappointed that Rajyam whom you loved did n’t love you?"

"In the beginning I felt so. But now I am not angry with Rajyam."

"Rajyam is feeling bad that you haven’t married so far."

"It was not my idea to pain her. But that doesn’t mean I cannot marry to make her feel happy."

"What do you want to achieve? Whom do you want to tease?"

"What did you all think of achieving by marrying? What did you achieve? In nature, all animals, birds and fish, every living creature is giving birth to their off spring. Is that what you achieved?"

"Annayya!… There is no world without births. You won’t be there. I too."

"Yes! but does the world mean only that?”

"No"

"If so, let me live according to my choice and liking."

Prameela became silent.

"Pramee! My ideas are keeping me alive. What you think I am doing for the society, is all being done for myself in fact. That is my happiness. Asking me to give up my ideas and ideals is to wish my death and nothing else."

It was the first time for Prameela to argue so long with her brother. Perhaps it was also the last time! thought Prameela.  She turned her eyes away.

The stars seen through the window were shining brightly like the flowers of the night.

"Annayya! I achieved motherhood in my life. That’s enough for this life."

Prameela closed her eyes with satisfaction. Ramesh gently passed his hand on her head with great affection.

Original Telugu published in Vaartha Telugu Daily

Critical Review of the above story by Dr. Kolahalam Ram Kishore

“Night Flowers” is a deeply moving and introspective short story that explores sacrifice, idealism, love, renunciation, and the meaning of life through an intimate conversation between a brother and sister. Set almost entirely in a hospital room, the story unfolds as a quiet yet powerful emotional and philosophical dialogue between Prameela, who is terminally ill, and her elder brother Ramesh, a man who has devoted his life to family and social causes.

The title itself is symbolic and evocative. Ramesh compares certain lives to stars that shine in the absence of moonlight and to flowers that bloom at night and wither by dawn. This metaphor becomes central to the story’s emotional structure. Some lives, like night flowers, are brief yet luminous; their value does not depend on duration but on the light they offer in darkness. Prameela’s life, though short, has illuminated three other lives through her love and motherhood. Similarly, Ramesh’s sacrifices, though uncelebrated, have quietly shaped many destinies.

One of the most striking aspects of the story is its philosophical depth. Through simple yet penetrating questions, the narrative probes existential themes: What is life? What is achievement? Is marriage the ultimate fulfilment? Does sacrifice lead to loss, or is it itself a form of gain? Prameela, facing death with remarkable calmness, challenges her brother to examine whether his ideals have deprived him of personal happiness. She wonders whether his sacrifices—both for family and society—have cost him too much.

Ramesh, however, represents a different moral universe. He does not see himself as a victim of sacrifice. He asserts that what others perceive as sacrifice is, for him, a source of joy and self-realization. His participation in social movements, his refusal to compete for leadership, and his quiet withdrawal once movements gain momentum reveal a rare detachment. He neither seeks power nor recognition. This trait is further reflected in his personal life: his love for Rajyam is relinquished without confrontation. Rather than competing for her affection, he chooses indifference over rivalry. His withdrawal from competitive examinations after losing her symbolizes his larger rejection of worldly competition.

The story subtly critiques society’s narrow definitions of success. Through Prameela’s questions, we hear the conventional expectations: marriage, family, children, material stability. Through Ramesh’s responses, we encounter a broader vision of life—one that values ideals, freedom of choice, and inner contentment over social approval. When he asks, “Is giving birth the only achievement?” he challenges the biological and social determinism that often defines human purpose. Yet the story does not dismiss motherhood. Prameela finds deep satisfaction in having achieved motherhood, and her fulfilment is portrayed with dignity and respect. Thus, the narrative balances two valid life-choices without moralizing either.

Emotionally, the story is restrained yet powerful. The hospital setting intensifies the sense of finality. Silence, pauses, tears, and memories replace dramatic action. The real movement occurs within hearts and minds. The recurring imagery of stars and night flowers enhances the atmosphere of quiet melancholy. The ending scene, where Prameela closes her eyes in satisfaction while stars shine outside, leaves a haunting impression. The external night mirrors the internal illumination of acceptance.

Characterization is another strength. Prameela evolves from a worried sister urging her brother to abandon sacrifice into a serene woman who accepts both her death and her life’s meaning. Ramesh emerges as a complex character—not a tragic hero but a self-aware idealist. His statement that giving up his ideals would mean wishing his death reveals the core of his identity. His ideals are not burdens but lifelines.

The language of the story is simple yet poetic. Dialogues carry the philosophical weight naturally, without appearing forced. The metaphors are clear but not excessive. The pacing is slow, reflecting the contemplative mood of the narrative.

In essence, “Night Flowers” is not merely about death or sacrifice. It is about the freedom to define one’s own meaning of life. It portrays two individuals who choose different paths yet respect each other’s choices. The story suggests that fulfilment is subjective: for some, it lies in family and motherhood; for others, in ideals and service. Like night flowers, certain lives may not be visible in the glare of day, but their fragrance lingers in the silence of night.

Overall, the story is a poignant meditation on love, renunciation, individuality, and the quiet dignity of self-chosen ideals. It leaves the reader reflecting on whether true success lies in societal recognition or in inner peace.