Episode 4

“Oh, did I tell you, child? I love the song you were whistling. I used to listen to that song all the time with my son.”

“Is that so?” I asked happily. “That’s one of my favourites too.”

“You have quite a taste for the classics, young man,” she replied, chuckling.

I sat beside her, laughing and chatting for a long time. She sparked a strange sense of exuberance and innocence inside of me, every word as if aiding my revolting tears and wounds left on the child I once was.

“Child, you remind me so much of my son. He used to be just like you, sitting alone whenever he was gloomy with that melancholic expression.”

“How old is your son, grandma?” I asked out of curiosity.

“Well, he is long gone, but he would be thirty-five this year if he had been alive.”

Grandma gave me a sweet smile again as she brushed my hair. “Wait a minute, son, I have a present for your birthday.”

And before I could protest, she hurried to her house and returned with something, not many people would use these days. A radio.

“This was the radio I used to keep by my side all the time,” she said, “It would comfort me, the songs would make me feel at ease. I hope it will also keep you company, child.”

Tears burst from my eyes as I hugged her tight. “Thank you so much, grandma. I love this gift very much.”

Never had I ever imagined a stranger to have such a kind soul. Truly, my birthday had become very special to me.

After accompanying her home and returning, I fiddled with the radio for a long time. It was very old and broken, but I was determined to make it work.

I stayed up all night fixing its parts and tightening its screws. I almost fell asleep, but no, I had promised not to sleep a wink until I had it fixed. It was around eight in the morning when I was finally done with it.

I tuned the radio stations, and there. It was all done. As I started playing random stations, I halted when I came across this one voice.

Oh, she sounds so sweet.

I couldn't help but be captivated by the sound of her voice coming through the radio. It was like nothing I had ever heard before – so warm and melodic, with a gentle tone that made every word sound like music. Her laugh made me feel on cloud nine. When she spoke, it was as if she was singing, even when she was just reading the news or introducing the next song.

I ended up getting lost in the sound of her voice, forgetting my sleep and whatever I was doing before. I kept on listening, entranced by the mundane words she was saying which faded into the background. My eyelids were heavy, and as if she was weaving a spell with her voice, I fell asleep, dreaming of some enchanted realm.

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