Lost and Found

It was a cold evening, the snow was in a haste to cover the barren land white. Aaliya, 11year old girl is almost over with the last pot of the coffee. Clueless she is planning so many things in one go. She knew the power cut can prevail any time soon and her woods are also less in number. She only wished, had she collected enough to keep herself and her brother warm.

The storm was raging slowly towards her. She could read it clearly from her closed windows. 

The winters were always harsh on her, one winter she remembers as her father left to get timber and never returned back. Another winter her mother could not survive with the chronic pneumonia. And this winter she only hopes that her little brother returns home safely. She is left with a loaf of bread, few sips of coffee and an apple. She saved it for Attish. But it's alreday five in evening and Attish seems to be no where.

Has there been a storm in that area, or any wild beast haunting for food. 

Many times she tried to go out and look around for his brother, but failed. They had only one warm coat which Aatish wore. She was repeatedly thinking that fate would take her brother too 

All she was left with was praying and keeping herself warm without burning fire. Afterall she was saving all the warmth for her brother. 

She decided once the wheather clears, she will cut lot of wood, collect lot of food so that Àttish never leaves the house for the same. 

Already four hours and Àttish has not returned, he left to collect some wood befor the storm would hit again.

Aaliya is repenting on sending Àttish away. She barely could breath more, her body was getting colder and paler with every passing minute. She sat in one corner, covering herself with all blankets and rugs she could find. Her mother always kept both the siblings warm and cozy always. She was missing her mother a lot more at this moment.

With sobby eyes she dint remember when she fall asleep. In her dreams, she saw her mother hugging her, giving her warmth and a hope. As her mother kissed her forehead, she opened her eyes, looking out for her mom, she heard someone knocking the door. She opened the freezing door and a faded lantern light illuminated her small world. It was Attish, with lots of timber. And wait what's that big black shadow behind?

As she focused the lantern on the black shadow, she could not believe a face she missed for years was standing infront from her... Her father, now look weary sort although, big beared and tanned skin but the eyes remained same sparkling and twinkling like always.

For the first time the storm has helped to gain something...

She hugged her in the most tight possible way. Within a fraction of time she was warm and cozy. She forgot how heavy the snow has covered the ground, warmth of lost love, longing hug lit her deep within.

They cried for hours before breaking the pattern by uttering words. They missed their mom a lot, but were happy not to be orphanage for the rest of their lives...