The Girl in the Summer Sun. It was a warm summer afternoon in the… | by Growwithme | Aug, 2025

It was a warm summer afternoon in the village. The sun was high, and everything moved slowly. The leaves barely swayed, and the air smelled of dust and ripe mangoes.

She was out in the open lane with her friends, running barefoot, laughing, shouting, and playing Laghori. Laghori a traditional Indian game played between two teams. Their voices filled the air with joy. Sometimes they fought, sometimes they rolled on the ground laughing for no reason. Her face was red from the sun, but she didn’t care and her eyes sparkled with happiness.

Inside the house, her mother was cooking lunch. The smell of dal, roti, and fried vegetables filled the little home. Her bangles made soft sounds as she moved around the kitchen. She wiped the sweat off her forehead and smiled every time she heard her daughter laugh outside.

Her father, who owned a small kirana shop near the main road, closed the shutters around 2 o’clock. He did it every day to come home for a short break. As he walked back through the narrow path, he saw her spinning in circles, chasing her friend, laughing without a care in the world.

He stopped for a second, just stood there watching her, and in that quiet moment his heart felt full. Nothing made him happier than seeing her like this.

He called her softly.

She turned around, saw him, and ran toward him with a big smile. Dust flew behind her as she grabbed his hand. He held it tight and they walked home together.

At home, they washed their hands at the tap. The water was cool, and it felt nice on their warm skin. Her mother laid out the plates on the floor. They all sat together. She talked non-stop about her games, about who cheated, who fell, who cried, and who made them all laugh.

Her father listened carefully, asking little questions, nodding, smiling. Her mother served more food, gently scolding her for talking with her mouth full, then laughing too. They ate together. Shared mangoes and wiped their hands with the same cloth. It was simple and it was real.

For her, this was the best part of the day. Not just the food, not just the stories. It was all of it. Sitting close, feeling loved. Knowing this was her world and everything in it was safe and happy.

Every day, this one hour filled her little heart with so much joy. It stayed with her like a soft blanket, even when the sun went down.

This was her favorite memory. And it always would be.