The Yellow Rose

Summary

The story recounts the heartwarming friendship between the narrator and Oshansa, a talented musician who overcomes personal hardships to achieve success.

Abstract

The narrative begins at a school musical concert where the narrator first encounters Oshansa, a girl with exceptional musical talent. Despite Oshansa's sudden departure due to financial and family issues, the narrator maintains their friendship, offering support and encouragement. Oshansa's life takes a challenging turn when she must care for her disabled father, leading them to move to their grandmother's village. The narrator's unwavering support is evident when they give Oshansa a yellow rose, symbolizing everlasting friendship, and a letter urging her to pursue her dreams. Five years later, Oshansa wins the 'Voice '20' competition, fulfilling the promise of her talent and acknowledging the narrator's role in her success. The story concludes with a touching reunion between Oshansa and the narrator, highlighting the enduring power of friendship and the importance of perseverance.

Opinions

The narrator values Oshansa's character over her financial status, emphasizing the importance of inner qualities in friendship.
Oshansa's dedication to her father and her decision to prioritize family over personal ambition demonstrate her strong sense of responsibility and love.
The narrator believes in Oshansa's potential and encourages her to continue pursuing her musical dreams despite adversity.
The yellow rose is used as a symbol of steadfast friendship and the enduring bond between the narrator and Oshansa.
The story conveys a message of hope and resilience, showing that with hard work and support, one can overcome life's challenges and achieve their goals.

A hero inside your heart

Image Courtesy: Ilia Zolas

“There’s a hero.. If you look inside your heart…” It was our school's annual musical concert. I was sitting in the audience with my friends. A girl was playing the piano. Her fingers traced the keys in a rhythmic way, creating a melodious tune with her magical voice. Everyone’s eyes were on her. In the end, she received a big round of applause from the audience for her performance. At the end of the show, I thought of going to meet her to congratulate her with my friends. We did, and she was such a nice girl. Her name was Oshansa. Time passed, and Oshansa became one of my best friends. She is such a good soul. She was a studious child, and her ability to sing and play the piano was far beyond the words. Days flew by, and a year passed. Unfortunately, she had to leave us and go all of a sudden. Nobody knew what the real reason was. Some days later I got a letter from Oshansa asking me to meet her and I went to place she had asked me to come. She was seated on a chair, and her face was dark with grief.

Me: “Hello, After a long time. Oh no… what’s the matter Oshi?” Oshansa: “I have got something to tell you, and I hope you won’t get angry with me” Me: “ Of course not, just tell me everything.” Oshansa: “I’m not as rich as your friends.” Me: “ I don’t care whether someone is rich or not. All I care about is whether they are a good soul or not. You are a sweet soul, and that’s why I decided to be a friend in the first place.” Oshansa: “That’s not the real problem. My mother and father has got divorced when I was very small , I’ve never seen my mother since then. When I was ten years old, my father faced a terrible accident, and he was disabled and bedridden. We have decided to go to the village to my grandmother because we can’t afford to live here anymore.” Me: “But what about the hostel? You can stay there. ” Oshansa: “I cannot live without my father. He needs me now specially after the accident. There is no one else to take care of him. I should be there for him.” I could see her eyes well up. Me: “You are the greatest friend I have ever met. I can understand. I will never forget you. And please just promise me that you will work to the ability to keep your dream alive. And please promise me that you will never forget me. ” Oshansa: “Me too…and yes, I would try my level best … and I would never forget you. ” We embraced each other, and I felt tears running down my cheeks. Finally, it was time to say goodbye. I gave her the yellow rose, the symbol of everlasting friendship, and a letter.

‘A bend in the road is not the end of it. Please promise me that you would always put in the hard work, the hours of practice whenever possible and you would never let your talent get ignored. You can always count on me. I will always be there for you whenever you need.’

Five years later… With ears as eager as hawks everyone’s eyes were glued to the host. He was about to announce the winner.

“And the winner of Voice ’20 is Oshansa.”

I could not help but let out a scream of joy. I raced to the stage and she received one squashing hug from me.

“I am so proud of you Oshi…”

Oshansa could not hold back the twinkling tears, holding her trophy of victory. She once again proved that her talent was the most unique. She slowly climbed down the stairs. In the front row was her father on his wheelchair. She embraced her father in the most heart-warming manner.

“Congratulations my darling, you have proved that you are a winner once again”, he said in his shaky yet loving voice.

“Thank you daddy”, she hugged him more tightly as tears rolled down his cheeks. “But this would not have been possible if someone did not remind me that some things are worth fighting and keeping alive”, she said, looking at me with eyes so sparkly filled with love for a dear friend.