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