A PACT WITH THE SUN
~Summary~
-by Khushwant Singh
The story "A Pact with the Sun" is written by Zakir Husain. It revolves around the characters Saeeda and her sick mother.
Saeeda and her mother
Saeeda's mother was suffering from several kinds of ailment. She was so pale and weak, and she was always confined to her
tiny room with windows shut. Various physicians had treated her, and yet she was never completely cured. It came to the
point that it seemed as if she would die. Later, some of her relatives convinced her to consult a specialist. She sold some of
her jewellery to pay for the doctor's fees and the medicine.
The doctor examined Saeeda's mother and prescribed some costly medicines. In addition to that, he had also asked her to
get an hour's worth of sunlight and fresh air, between eight and nine in the morning. Despite the opposition from some of
the elders in her house, Saeeda's mother had decided to follow the doctor's instructions. Unfortunately, the next two days
remained cloudy and gloomy. The sky was filled with clouds, and the sun was well hidden. Saeeda's mother was heartbroken.
Saeeda had heard what the doctor had said, and she was also aware that her mother was feeling very sad. Later in the same
afternoon, she discovered a spot on the courtyard where the sun rays were retreating. She called out to one of them in a secret
language known only to the children. She asked the little ray to come back tomorrow to help her sick mother recover. The little
ray promised her the same and left.
On the next day, the sky remained cloudy. The sun was hidden behind them. However, to keep her promise with Saeeda, the
little ray and her sibling rays convinced their father, the sun, to visit the earth. They also pushed through the thick clouds and
reached Saeeda’s courtyard. Saeeda and her mother were very happy and grateful. As time went by, Saeeda’s mother recovered.
Plenty of sunlight and lungful of air, along with the proper medicine, and healed Saeeda’s mother.
Saeeda makes a pact with the Sun
~Conclusion~
The sun’s rays were so strong and united that they penetrated the clouds and reached the Earth as promised. The Sun shone
bright and Saeeda’s pale and weak mother looked radiant. The fresh air and the warmth of the mighty Sun helped her recover.
This concludes that fresh air and the sun’s warmth are good for our health.