Anita was exhausted. She had spent the entire day juggling work, household chores, and cooking for her family. By evening, her patience was running thin. Her ten-year-old son, Ronik, had left his room in a complete mess, and this was the third time that week. Clothes were scattered on the floor, toys were everywhere, and books lay open on the bed.
“Ronik!” she called out sharply, her voice echoing through the house. “How many times have I told you to keep your room clean?”
Ronik, who was watching cartoons in the living room, heard the anger in his mother’s voice and rushed over, already guessing what this was about. He stood at the door, his face wary, scratching his head. “Sorry, Mumma, I forgot,” he mumbled, looking down.
But Anita wasn’t in the mood for another apology. Her irritation boiled over, and without thinking, she grabbed his favourite action figure—a superhero he adored—and stormed over to the window. Before Ronik could react, she threw the toy out of the window.
The world seemed to freeze for a moment. Ronik stood frozen, his mouth open in shock, as he watched the toy sail through the air and disappear into the bushes below. His eyes filled with tears, and he looked at his mother, his face a mix of disbelief and heartbreak.
“Mumma… you threw it?” his voice trembling, his eyes wide in disbelief. “Why did you…?” He struggled for words, his little face scrunched in confusion and hurt. “That was my favourite…” His small hands clutched his shirt, and his teary eyes were filled with hurt, reflecting a child’s deep emotions. “That was my favourite…” he repeated again.
Anita felt a pang in her heart as she looked at his tear-streaked face, but her frustration hadn’t fully cooled yet. “Maybe this will help you remember to keep things tidy,” she said harshly.
Ronik just stood there for a moment, his gaze fixed on the window, unable to understand why his mother did something so cruel. Without another word, Ronik turned and ran out of the room, his shoulders shaking, leaving her standing alone, shutting the door behind him.
As the evening wore on, Anita sat alone with a cup of tea, her anger slowly dissolving into regret. The image of Ronik’s shattered expression replayed in her mind, and her heart sank. She had let her frustration turn into something ugly, something hurtful. Throwing his favourite toy out had been a thoughtless, hurtful reaction. She set her tea down and sighed, bracing herself to make things right.
She found Ronik in his room, sitting quietly on his bed, his face buried in his knees. She walked in and sat beside him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Ronik,” she said softly, “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. I was angry, but that doesn’t make what I did right.”
Ronik didn’t look up. His voice came out shaky and broken. “Why did you throw it, Mumma? You… you always say not to break things. You just threw it…” His words were jumbled, struggling to make sense of what had happened. His words were soft but full of pain.
Anita swallowed, feeling the weight of her actions. She gently pulled him into a hug. “I know, beta, I know. I was wrong, and I hurt you. But I’m here, and I’m going to make it up for you.” Ronik sniffled, his small hands clutching her tightly, but he didn’t say anything. She hesitated, searching for the right words. “Let’s try to make a deal, alright? If you promise to keep your room tidy each day, I’ll get you a new toy—maybe even a better one.”
Ronik looked up at her with puffy eyes, hesitant. “But will you throw it again if I forget?” His voice was small, unsure.
The question stung Anita. She shook her head firmly. “No, I promise. I’ll be more patient. And if you forget, we’ll work on it together. I’m learning too, okay?”
Ronik nodded slowly, the hurt beginning to melt away. “Okay, Mumma. But only if you keep your promise.”
They hugged tightly, each of them feeling a little lighter. Later, they went downstairs together and retrieved the toy from the bushes. Though it was a bit scratched, Ronik held it close, as if protecting it from future harm. And from that day on, Anita remembered to take a deep breath before reacting, knowing that sometimes, a little patience was the only thing required.