This is in response to Rochelle’s Weekly Photo Prompt for Friday Fictioneers.
Word Count: 100
He had to finish all his office work before he left.
He didn’t know when he would return.
The trip to the remote annual village fair would take more than a day.
Plus the time he would have to spend there.
His yearly mission…
To look for his son who had gone missing twenty five years back at the fair.
Every year he hoped to be reunited with him.
Every year he returned a little more heartbroken.
Word Count: 77
***
Author’s Note :
This flash fiction is based on a true story.
When I was working in Kolkata (then Calcutta) I came to know of this heartbreaking story of a fellow commuter. He was a frail, middle aged man who was often absent from work looking for his son who had gone missing when he was a little boy.
I have mentioned the village fair as the place of incident here. But the poor man would go looking wherever he heard of any unidentified boy located/found by the cops or public.
We happen to read such stories or see it in movies but what it is for a tormented soul whose entire life is given to such a hopeless search!!!
I did not want to utilise this forum for sharing such sad stories . But isn’t it strange that while we writers weave stories around our imagination for some those imaginary situations are poignant reality.
Truly, life is stranger than fiction.
—-
You can read the other stories here.
GC, this story hits hard.
Knowing from the note that this is real makes the father’s endless search even more haunting.
Life really does outdo fiction sometimes, and these words carry that heartbreaking weight. 🙏
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Yes, Mr. P. The prompt triggered the memory. The worst is the gentleman looked so ‘normal’ as though he has accepted the pain and loss as an integral part of his existence.
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I agree. Many times we have to come to terms with life. There is no other go, and pain shows up now and then.
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It is, you may see your feelings rhyming in my post Nobody, whom I am searching. Quest is the foundation of life. Your post reminded me of the most well known short story of Mulk Raj Anand The lost child which I taught to my daughter and students.
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Geeta, a heart tug and hard swallow with this relaistic fiction and then your note, “we writers weave stories around our imagination for some those imaginary situations are poignant reality” was sobering. My heart aches for anyone having to go through that – and I am glad you chose to cover this topic this week.
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Thank you so much Yvette. The memory was triggered by the prompt.
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truly sad…
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It is really sad and that I think that search for the dad was his coping mechanism.
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Perhaps you are right Ganga. I never thought about it from that perspective. Thank you very much.
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Thank you, Geeta, for the deeply moving story!
Joanna
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You are welcome Joanna
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Thank you, Geeta!
Joanna
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Heartbreaking
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Yes, Derrrick. Very much so.
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In the beginning it was a little sad story but your note adds loads to it.
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Thank you Rupali so very much.
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Some stories have no ending
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So true Neil.
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Interesting
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Oh, this is heartbreaking, especially given it is true.
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Yes, Brenda. It is true and heartbreaking
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Dreadfully sad, although you have written so well, Geeta!
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Thank you Chris. Yes, it is very, very sad.
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Life . . .
A cocktail of mysterious circumstances !
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Yes life is fiction at its mysterious best.
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Terrible to lose a child and especially if you never know what happened to him.
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Yes, it is James. Thank you 🙏
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How terribly heartbreaking, Geeta. well written.
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Thank you so much Dale 🙏
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Dear Geeta,
What a sad story. Well told.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you so much Rochelle.
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Geeta, to know the story is true is heart wrenching 😦
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I know Lisa. Thank you for reading.
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You’re welcome.
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