The Ultimate Sacrifice I Story By Praaptie,14,Bhubaneswar

The Ultimate Sacrifice

In a small, weathered house on the outskirts of a bustling city lived a poor little girl named Rohini. Her life was a delicate dance between scarcity and hope. Among the few joys she had was a scruffy little terrier named Raja, a stray she had adopted as her own. Raja’s mottled brown coat and wagging tail had become a beacon of comfort in Rohini’s life.

Every day, Rohini would sneak out of the house to feed Raja, sharing her meagre lunch with him. Her mother, though loving, would often scold her, “We can barely feed ourselves; why waste food on a dog?” But Rohini saw something in Raja that her mother didn’t—a kindred spirit, a guardian angel.

One fateful day, a fierce storm rolled in, bringing with it powerful winds and lashing rains. Rohini was on her way home from school when a strong gust swept her off her feet, sending her tumbling into a nearby ditch. Raja, who had been following her from a distance, sprang into action.

He ran to the edge of the ditch and began to bark loudly, trying to alert someone to Rohini’s plight. But the storm was too intense, and his cries were drowned out by the thunder. He ran to the nearby houses, barking and whining, hoping someone would hear him. But the doors remained shut, and the windows stayed closed.

No one came to help.

Raja, realising that he was Rohini’s only hope, jumped into the ditch, the raging waters threatening to engulf him. With his teeth he grasped Rohini’s sleeve, pulling her to safety. Just as they were about to reach the edge of the ditch, a churning wall of water swept Raja away, pulling him under the surface.

Rohini, screaming in horror, tried to grab onto Raja, but it was too late. The little dog had sacrificed himself to save her, his body disappearing beneath the surface. Rohini’s mother, frantic with worry, rushed to her daughter’s side, relief washing over her face as she saw Rohini safe, but her eyes widening in grief as she realised what had happened to Raja.

As they stood there, mourning the loss of their beloved Raja, Rohini’s mother was overcome with guilt and regret. She had never liked Raja and had never understood why Rohini was so attached to him. She had scolded Rohini for feeding him, for playing with him, for loving him. And now, as she saw the depth of Rohini’s sorrow, she realised the error of her ways.

She felt a deep sense of remorse for not having appreciated Raja’s love for Rohini and for not having seen the good in him. She remembered all the times she had scolded Rohini for spending time with Raja, all the times she had tried to keep them apart. And she knew that she had been wrong—that Raja had been a true friend to Rohini, a loyal companion who had given his life to save her daughter. She hugged Rohini tightly, wiping the tears streaming down her own face. “I’m so sorry, Beta. I didn’t appreciate Raja’s love for you,” she whispered. 

Rohini looked up at the sky, her eyes brimming with tears. She whispered, “Thank you, Raja. You will always be in my heart.” As she spoke, tears began to roll down her cheeks, streaming down her face like the rain that had just ceased. Her voice cracked with sorrow, and her words were filled with gratitude and love.

She stood there, frozen in grief as the tears continued to flow. Her mother wrapped her arms around her, holding her close as they both mourned the loss of their beloved Raja. The sky above seemed to grow darker, as if it too was mourning the passing of the little dog who had given his life to save his human friend. 

In that moment, Rohini felt a deep sense of loss but also a profound sense of connection to Raja. She knew that he would always be with her, in her heart and in her memories. And as she stood there, surrounded by the silence and the stillness, she felt Raja’s presence, his spirit watching over her, guiding her, and protecting her.

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