Short Story: Pride by Rakesh Pandey

In this short story, Rakesh Pandey shares an incident from the past with a captivating narrative and a shocking ending.

It was an early spring morning in Benaras. 

The freezing winter was slowly giving way to the hot and sultry summer. The world had exploded in a symphony of colors and fragrances. The pundits of Asi ghat were busy in their daily rituals with new vigor to please Mahadev. The fruits and vegetables market near Shivpur was gearing up to face the lovely day with the typical small-town lethargy. Gopi was dressing up to go to the market. He was a small-time fruit seller who sold his wares in a small wicker basket. 

The beautiful morning had made him sing in a tuneless voice. Beauty is an aphrodisiac for a heart, which is at peace with happiness as its companion. A troubled heart never appreciates beauty. Gopi was always happy.