On the last day of the year, workaholic Manoj reluctantly took a day off at his wife's urging. Upon returning to the office, he felt a sense of absence and realized that Annamma, a colleague he had grown fond of, was missing. His colleagues informed him that it was her retirement day, and he began to regret his day off as he reflected on his memories with her. After being transferred back to his previous office, Manoj found Annamma looking tired and mostly gray-haired, having suffered from paralysis affecting one arm and one leg. Despite her condition, she remained cheerful and often encouraged Manoj to relax instead of working excessively. They developed a bond, with Manoj learning that Annamma had no children and her husband worked elsewhere, often dropping her off at the office. One day after Christmas, Annamma surprised Manoj with a cake, expressing her thoughtfulness despite his vegetarianism. When she mistakenly questioned if eggs were vegetarian, it highlighted her innocence and care. As Manoj struggled with his emotions and memories of Annamma, she appeared again with vegetarian sweets, asking why he had not come the previous day. The story captures the themes of regret, connection, and the importance of relationships in everyday life.

by Rohit Sharma in English Short Stories

Writen by Rohit Sharma

Category Short Stories