Tapped water

In a cozy living room *1, bathed in the warm glow of a fireplace, an elderly grandmother sat on a cushioned armchair, knitting a colorful blanket. Her young granddaughter, a curious and wide-eyed girl of about ten, sat at her feet, listening intently. The girl’s name was Lily, and she loved her grandmother’s stories.

 

“Grandma, tell me a story,” Lily pleaded, her voice full of anticipation.

 

The grandmother smiled, setting aside her knitting. “Alright, my dear. Let me tell you a story about someone very special.”

Once upon a time, in a small village surrounded by rolling hills, there lived a kind-hearted woman named Clara. Clara was known for her generosity and unwavering support for those around her. She had a bright smile and a warm heart, always ready to help anyone in need.

 

One day, Clara met a man named Daniel. Daniel was charming and seemed to have the world at his feet. He had a way with words and could make anyone feel special. Clara, with her open heart, welcomed Daniel into her life, believing he was a kind soul in need of support.

 

But as time went on, Clara began to notice things about Daniel that troubled her. He was often self-centered, ungrateful, and quick to anger. His mood swings were like the shifting winds, unpredictable and sometimes harsh. Despite this, Clara held on, hoping that her kindness and patience would make a difference.

 

“Why did Clara stay with him, Grandma?” Lily asked, her eyes wide with concern.

 

“Ah, my dear,” the grandmother replied, “sometimes, when we care deeply for someone, we hope we can help them change. But change must come from within.”

tell me more

♡

Days turned into months, and months into years. Clara endured Daniel’s erratic behavior and emotional abuse, always believing that things would get better. She was strong and rarely complained, but there came a moment when even Clara had to say, “Enough is enough.”

 

She decided to stop indulging Daniel’s manipulative antics. She stood her ground, refusing to be drawn into his games. To her surprise, Daniel began to paint her as the villain in his stories, telling everyone that she was the one who had wronged him.

 

Clara felt the persistent pain morph into unrelenting fear. Each day became a test, a challenge to navigate the provocative situations Daniel orchestrated. She never knew what to expect next.

 

“What would Daniel do today?” she often wondered. “What would be his next move?”

 

Despite the red flags, Clara held herself accountable for not seeing the truth sooner. She realized she had allowed herself to suffer, oblivious to the toll on her well-being.

 

“What’s a red flag, Pom-Pom?” Lily interrupted, her brow furrowed in confusion.

 

“Red flags are like little warning signs, my dear,” the grandmother explained gently. “Imagine you’re sailing on a boat, and you see a storm coming. Those dark clouds and strong winds are warning you to be careful. Red flags in relationships are like those storm warnings—they tell you something isn’t right, and you need to protect yourself.”

 

Grandma noticed Lily seemed lost in thought, playing with her broken doll—a doll that had been broken for a long time, but Lily never wanted to let it go. She asked, “Is this not a story you wanted to hear?”

 

Lily sighed, “But Pom-Pom, I hate Clara.”

 

“Why so?” Grandma asked, curious.

 

“She’s stupid! She should have talked to his parents. I’m sure they would have talked to Daniel about this. He is not a nice guy. He made Clara cry.”

 

Grandma pulled Lily onto her lap as she remained upset, fidgeting with her broken doll. “Sometimes, my dear, you need to get washed off by the storm to start anew. Just like a forest needs to burn to make way for fresh, new growth.”

 

Lily looked up, her eyes wide with understanding. “So, Clara needed to go through the storm to become stronger?”

 

“Exactly,” Grandma said, hugging Lily close. “Sometimes, we have to face difficult times to find our true strength and begin again.”

 

“No one deserves such treatment—absolutely no one,” the grandmother said firmly, looking at Lily. Two drops of tears rolled from her eyes.

 

“Do you know Clara, Pom-Pom?” Lily asked. “Can I play with her? I will let her have my dolls.”

 

“Wouldn’t that be lovely,” Grandma said. And without getting any further, she continued with the story. Lily seemed excited again to know Clara.

Clara came to understand that sometimes people create their own stories, a web of lies to protect themselves from the truth. Daniel had built a cocoon of fabricated narratives, blaming others for his actions. He projected his shortcomings onto those who cared for him, avoiding self-reflection and accountability.

 

In his world, Daniel was always the victim. But Clara knew the truth.

 

“Swami Vivekananda once said, ‘Do not believe a thing because you have read about it in a book. Do not believe a thing because another man has said it was true. Find out the truth for yourself. Reason it out. That is realization,'” the grandmother explained, her voice steady and warm.

 

Lily looked puzzled. “What does that mean, Pom-Pom?”

 

“It means,” Grandma said, gently holding Lily’s hands, “that you should think for yourself and find your own truth, rather than just believing what others tell you.”

 

“Oh, I see,” Lily said, nodding slowly.

 

“Clara took these words to heart,” Grandma continued. “She had a unique gift—she could see through the walls people built around themselves. She understood Daniel’s behavior, even when he couldn’t see it himself. It was both a gift and a curse.”

 

Lily tilted her head, still playing with her broken doll. “Why was it a curse, Pom-Pom?”

 

“Because, my dear, seeing the truth doesn’t always mean you can change it. Clara helped Daniel become more self-sufficient, breaking free from his self-imposed mental barriers. She showed him a world beyond his limits, but her efforts were met with dismissal. Daniel claimed she had done nothing at all.”

 

“That’s not fair!” Lily exclaimed, her eyes wide with indignation.

 

“No, it’s not,” Grandma agreed. “His ego was fragile, and when others questioned his independence, he lashed out. Clara defended him, standing firm against the tide of doubt. She was a silent force, a steadfast companion in a world where support was hard to find.”

 

Lily frowned, clutching her doll tightly. “But why did Clara stay with him if he was so mean?”

 

“Sometimes, we stay with people because we hope they will change, or because we think our love and support will help them,” Grandma explained, brushing a strand of hair from Lily’s face. “But in the end, Clara realized that no amount of effort should come at the cost of one’s mental health. She had to let go.”

 

Lily sighed deeply, her little hands smoothing the tattered dress of her doll. “I understand, Pom-Pom. Clara was brave to let go.”

 

“Yes, she was,” Grandma said softly, hugging Lily close. “Sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is to take care of ourselves.”

“Clara learned a valuable lesson,” the grandmother said, her eyes softening as she looked at Lily. “She realized that she couldn’t continue to sacrifice her own happiness for someone who didn’t appreciate it.”

 

Clara decided to prioritize her well-being. She set boundaries and stood by them, even when Daniel accused her of being heartless. She knew that prioritizing herself didn’t make her the villain—it made her the hero of her own story.

 

Lily looked up at her grandmother, her eyes filled with admiration. “Clara was really brave, wasn’t she, Grandma?”

 

“Yes, my dear,” the grandmother replied, hugging Lily close. “Clara was incredibly brave. She learned to value herself and understand that her own happiness mattered.”

 

In the end, Clara emerged stronger and wiser. She no longer tolerated nonsense and only offered her kindness to those who truly valued it. She understood that when someone treats you poorly, it reflects their character, not yours.

 

“I will always remember Clara’s story, Grandma,” Lily said, hugging her grandmother tightly.

 

“And I hope it reminds you to always value yourself, my dear,” the grandmother replied. “Remember, you are strong and worthy of respect, just like Clara.”

 

As the fire crackled softly in the background, Lily felt a sense of warmth and strength from her grandmother’s words. She knew that no matter what challenges she faced in life, she would always carry Clara’s story in her heart.

Lily then looked at her broken doll, which had been with her for so long despite its wear and tear. She carefully dressed it up in its best clothes, smoothing out the little dress and tying its tiny shoes. With a tender smile, she whispered, “Goodbye, old friend.”

 

She gently placed the doll on a special shelf, as if giving it a place of honor. “Just like Clara,” she said softly, turning back to her grandmother with a determined look in her eyes, “I need to be strong and let go of things that no longer make me happy.”

 

Grandma smiled, pride shining in her eyes. “That’s right, Lily. Sometimes, letting go is the bravest thing we can do.”

Lily: Grandma, can we talk more about Clara?

 

Grandma: Of course, dear. What’s on your mind?

 

Lily: I was thinking about how Clara kept trying to help Daniel even when he was mean.

 

Grandma: I don’t blame Clara. She was just trying to do a good thing.

 

Lily: [Interrupts] But Grandma, I think she forgot to do the right thing.

 

Grandma: [Surprised] What do you mean, Lily?

 

Lily: I mean, she was so busy being nice to Daniel that she didn’t do what was best for her. Isn’t that important too?

 

Grandma: [Taken aback] My goodness, Lily. That’s very wise of you. You’re right. Sometimes we try so hard to be nice that we forget to take care of ourselves.

 

Lily: So, Clara needed to do what was right for her, even if it was hard?

 

Grandma: Yes, exactly. Doing the right thing means looking after yourself too. It’s not always easy, but it’s very important.

 

Lily: I understand, Grandma. Clara was brave to finally do what was right for her.

 

Grandma: She was. And it’s a lesson we can all learn from. Always remember, Lily, to be kind to yourself as well as to others.

Who am I? 

by Avik Nandy

*1 The stories shared here don’t adhere to any specific timeframe; rather, they have unfolded across various chapters of my life, each resonating with the authenticity of my personal experiences.
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Comments

OMGGG AVIK! That is sooo amazing. I definitely felt super connected to that with my experience and traumas. I am definitely not like Daniel…. I WANT TO BE LIKE CLARA!   🥰

- Danny

Imagine Clara’s journey—a path filled with trials and immense challenges. She endured so much, and her strength was undeniable, but it came with a heavy price. From her, we can all take valuable lessons, but it’s important to remember that we don’t need to be exactly like her. ~ author

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