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Anjali's Journey of Empathy and Support

A Story of Helping a Mother with Forgetfulness and Her Daughter

By Naureen IkramPublished about a year ago 6 min read
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Anjali's Journey of Empathy and Support
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

A two-year-old baby girl, Riya, was crying inconsolably at the bustling railway station. She looked lost and scared, and no one seemed to know where her parents were. Anjali, a young lady waiting for her train, noticed Riya and approached her.

"Hey, little one, why are you crying? Where are your mommy and daddy?" Anjali asked, but the baby just cried louder.

Anjali tried to comfort the baby by picking her up and walking around the station, hoping to find her parents. She asked several people if they knew the baby's parents, but no one did. She searched everywhere, but the parents were nowhere to be found.

Anjali felt sorry for the baby and didn't know what to do. She took the baby to the stationmaster's office and reported the lost child. They announced over the loudspeaker about the lost baby, but no one responded.

Feeling hopeless, Anjali sat down with the baby and tried to calm her down. She sang lullabies and played with her to keep her distracted. After a while, the baby fell asleep in Anjali's lap.

Hours went by, and still, no one came to claim the baby. Anjali was worried and didn't know what else to do. She decided to contact the local police station and report the lost baby.

Finally, the police arrived and took the baby into their custody. Anjali was heartbroken to see the baby go, but she knew it was the best thing for her. She hoped that the parents would come forward soon and reunite with their baby.

Anjali never forgot about Riya, and she kept checking the news and social media for updates on the baby. Weeks went by, and finally, Anjali received news that Riya's parents had been found, and they were reunited with their baby girl.

Anjali felt a sense of relief and happiness, knowing that Riya was back with her family. She knew she did everything she could to help, and she was grateful for the experience.

Anjali was taking a walk in the park, enjoying the pleasant weather when she heard a familiar sound - a baby crying. She turned around and saw Riya sitting alone on a bench, crying. Anjali quickly recognized her and rushed towards her.

"Riya, what happened? Why are you crying?" Anjali asked, picking up the toddler.

Riya stopped crying and hugged Anjali, feeling relieved to see someone she recognized. Anjali was worried, wondering how Riya ended up alone again.

Just then, Pooja, Riya's mother, came running towards them, panting and looking flustered. "Oh my god, Riya! Thank god you're okay. I'm sorry, I lost sight of her for a moment," Pooja said, taking Riya from Anjali's arms.

Anjali was furious, "Pooja, how could you be so careless? This is the second time I've found Riya alone. You need to be more responsible."

"I know, I know, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen again. I was looking for her everywhere," Pooja said, feeling guilty.

"You can't be losing sight of your child like this. You need to be more careful. What if someone else found her?" Anjali continued, her anger not subsiding.

Pooja hung her head low, "I'm sorry, Anjali. I promise this won't happen again. Thank you for taking care of her. I'll make sure she's always with me from now on."

Anjali softened her tone, "It's okay, Pooja. I'm just glad she's safe. But please be more careful in the future."

Pooja nodded, "I will. Thank you again for taking care of Riya. You're a good friend."

Anjali smiled, "Anytime. Just take better care of her."

With that, the two women parted ways, hoping that this incident would be the last time Riya would be alone and lost.

A few months later, Anjali was traveling by bus to visit her hometown when she saw a familiar face. It was Riya, the little girl whom she had found crying alone at the railway station and park. Anjali was surprised and happy to see Riya with her mother, Pooja.

"Hey, Riya! Hi, Pooja! It's so good to see you both. How have you been?" Anjali asked, taking a seat next to them.

"We've been good. How about you?" Pooja replied, smiling.

"I'm doing well. It's so nice to see Riya again. She's grown so much," Anjali said, patting Riya's head.

Riya giggled, happy to see Anjali again.

Pooja looked at Anjali with a serious expression, "Anjali, I need to talk to you about something. I've been having a problem with forgetfulness lately. I think it's affecting my ability to take care of Riya properly."

Anjali was concerned, "What do you mean? Have you been forgetting important things?"

"Yes, I forget things like where I put my keys or if I've locked the door. It's been happening more often lately, and I'm worried," Pooja replied, looking worried.

Anjali listened patiently, "Have you seen a doctor about this? It could be a sign of a medical condition."

"I haven't yet, but I think I need to. It's been affecting my mental health too. I get anxious and worried all the time," Pooja said, looking sad.

Anjali nodded, "It's good that you're aware of this and want to take action. Don't worry, I'm here for you. We'll find a solution together."

Pooja smiled, feeling relieved, "Thank you, Anjali. You're a true friend."

The three of them continued to chat and catch up on their lives. Anjali was glad to have met them and hoped that Pooja's condition would improve soon.

Anjali felt a strong sense of responsibility towards Pooja and Riya, especially after learning about Pooja's condition of forgetfulness. She made it a point to visit them often and help Pooja cope with her problem.

Pooja lived alone with Riya and her servant Ramu, as her husband had divorced her due to her condition. Pooja struggled with her forgetfulness, which made it difficult for her to manage her daily life and take care of Riya. Ramu helped her with the household chores, but Pooja felt guilty for burdening him.

Anjali noticed Pooja's struggles and started to help her with the household chores and taking care of Riya. She would often come over and cook meals for them, help clean the house, and play with Riya. Anjali also encouraged Pooja to see a doctor about her condition and helped her find a specialist.

Pooja was grateful for Anjali's support and felt less alone in her struggles. Riya loved spending time with Anjali and looked forward to her visits. Anjali's presence brought joy and light to their lives.

Over time, Pooja's condition improved with the help of medication and therapy. Anjali continued to support Pooja and encouraged her to take care of herself. Pooja started to feel more confident and capable of managing her life and taking care of Riya.

Anjali felt proud of Pooja's progress and happy to have been a part of her journey toward better mental health. She had learned that supporting someone with a mental health condition required patience, empathy, and understanding. Anjali hoped that by being there for Pooja and Riya, she had made a positive impact on their lives.

Short Story
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About the Creator

Naureen Ikram

I write fiction. my stories are filled with vivid characters and creative plotlines. My goal as a writer is to captivate and engage my readers, I want my readers to explore new worlds and new perspectives.

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