Her Dream Bicycle
Malar lived at Keeranur village in Pudukottai district with her family. Malar was studying in class VI. She was eleven years old. She had two elder sisters and a younger brother. His name was Arul. Malar’s father was Kathirvel. Kathirvel was a hard-working farmer. Of late, the rains were irregular and he could not always cultivate the two acres they owned. Her eldest sister was Ponni. Ponni was married to a mason and lived in Mathur with her little son Vikram. Malar’s second sister was Mallika. Mallika decided to do tailoring after Class X and was attending a tailoring course in Mathur. Attending the course also gave Mallika a chance to visit her sister Ponni. But walking all the way made her tired and she often missed the tailoring classes.
Her mother used to scold Mallika. “OH! Why are you so lazy? You must attend your classes regularly”.
Mallika would reply, “I walk 9 kilometers everyday – 4 kilometers to the tailoring classes, 2 kilometers to fetch water and 3 milometers to take lunch for father when you are busy. You can not call me lazy.”
In fact, nobody in their home was lazy. Malar would walk 1 kilometer with her friends to school and back. She and her friends would chat and play all the way back.
One day, when Arul and Malar had just come back from school, her father came in looking upset. He said to his wife, “Shanthi, it seems that the collector is not satisfied with teaching only Math’s and Tamil. She even wants women to learn cycling.
Malar was excited. She asked, “father, Is it only for mother? Can I learn?”
Mallika was interested too. She said, “If there is anyone who needs bicycle, it is me.”
Arul said, “This is really good. I can teach both of you to cycle, if you buy me a cycle.”
Their father was angry.
“Keep quiet!” he said. “No woman in my house will learn to cycle”.
A week passed. What their father had heard was true. Women were being taught to cycle at all. In many homes across the villages in Pudukottai district, there was a lot of discussion on women learning to cycle.
In Keeranur too, women beginning to use bicycle to do many things. One day, Shanthi told Mallika softly, “Borrow Radhamma’s old bicycle and bring it here. We are going to learn to ride it.”
When Malar’s father returned, he saw Mallika smiling widely and guessed why.
He said gruffly, “All right…But be careful.”
He looked at Shanthi and smiled. “Have you started learning?”
“Yes.” she said. “It takes things much easier.”
Malar was busy, dreaming of the future. She saw herself riding a brand new bicycle along a smooth long road to school and to college and then who knows? May be even on a rainbow to the clouds.
Related posts:
English Short, Moral Story “Follow Your Dream" for Kids and Children for Class 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, co...
Children Story
Akbar-Birbal Hindi Moral Story “Pehli Mulakat”, “पहली मुलाकात” for Kids, Educational Story for Stude...
Children Story
Hindi Moral Story "Jadu ki Chadi", "जादू की छड़ी” for Kids, Full length Educational Story for Studen...
Children Story
English Short, Moral Story “Never Disparage others Danger" for Kids and Children for Class 5, 6, 7, ...
Moral Story
English Inspirational Story "Be Assertive, Not Aggressive" Moral Story for kids and Students.
Moral Story
English Short Moral Story “Puppies for Sale” Inspirational Story for Kids and Students of Class 5, 6...
Short Story
Hindi Moral Story "Sher aur Kishmish", "शेर और किशमिश” for Kids, Full length Educational Story for S...
Children Story
English Short, Moral Story “The Tale Of The Rabbit And The Thief" for Kids and Children for Class 5,...
Moral Story
English Short, Moral Story “Weakness or Strength” for Kids and Children for Class 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,...
Short Story
English Short, Moral Story “Goldilocks and the Three Bears" for Kids and Children for Class 5, 6, 7,...
Moral Story
Moral Story "Money can't buy everything " for Kids and Children, English Story for Class 5, 6, 7, 8,...
Children Story
Akbar-Birbal Hindi Moral Story “Paan Wale ko Chuna ”, “पान वाले को चूना” for Kids, Educational Story...
Children Story
English Moral Story "Keep Positive Attitude towards Life" for Kids, Full length Educational Story fo...
Children Story
Short Story " Greedy Boy" for Children, moral story for kids in English for competition with moral v...
Children Story
English Short, Moral Story “The Swans and The Turtle" for Kids and Children for Class 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,...
Moral Story
English Short, Moral Story “Start from basis to learn better” for Kids and Children for Class 5, 6, ...
Moral Story
English Short, Moral Story “Once Bitten Twice Shy" for Kids and Children for Class 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10...
Moral Story
English Short, Moral Story “The Wooden Bowl" for Kids and Children for Class 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, comp...
Moral Story
English Short, Moral Story “Kindness never goes Unrewarded" for Kids and Children for Class 5, 6, 7,...
Moral Story
Hindi Moral Story "Har Kisi Par Vishwas Na Kro", "हर किसी पर विश्वास न करो” for Kids, Full length Ed...
Children Story