EnglishShortStories.com

Aarav and the Last Diya

Story

It was Diwali night, and the whole street outside glowed like a sky full of fallen stars.

Aarav stood on his rooftop, counting the diyas lined along the parapet. One by one, the little flames flickered out as the wind passed through.

"Oh no," he whispered. "They're all going out."

Only one diya remained, small and stubborn, at the very end of the row.

"That one won't last either," Aarav sighed.

His grandfather, Bauji, came up beside him slowly, his walking stick tapping softly on the stone floor.

"Why so worried, beta?"

"All the diyas are going out, Bauji. Soon there won't be any light left on our roof."

Bauji looked at the one small flame still standing against the wind. "Watch that one," he said. "Even a single diya can light up a whole rooftop, if it just keeps burning."

Aarav watched it sway, dip, and then steady itself again.

Down below, a little girl from the next house looked up. "Look, Ma! One light is still on!" she called out happily.

Aarav smiled. The smallest flame had been noticed after all.

"It doesn't need the others to shine," said Bauji. "It only needs to keep burning."

Aarav sat down beside the little diya and cupped his hands gently around it, shielding it from the wind.

The flame steadied, warm and golden, lighting up the corner of the rooftop long after every other light on the street had gone quiet.

"Goodnight, little diya," Aarav whispered.

The flame flickered once, as if answering back, and burned on softly into the night.

Worksheet

MCQs

  1. What festival is it in the story? a) Holi b) Diwali c) Raksha Bandhan d) Navratri
  2. Where does Aarav stand, watching the diyas? a) In the courtyard b) On the rooftop c) Near the temple d) In the kitchen
  3. Who comforts Aarav? a) His mother b) Bauji, his grandfather c) A neighbour d) A priest
  4. What does Bauji say about the last diya? a) It will go out soon b) It can still light up the rooftop c) It is too small to matter d) It needs the others
  5. Who notices the last diya from below? a) A boy b) A little girl next door c) Bauji d) Nobody

True/False

  1. All the diyas on the rooftop stayed lit through the night. (___)
  2. Aarav protects the last diya by cupping his hands around it. (___)
  3. Bauji tells Aarav that one small light cannot matter. (___)
  4. A little girl from next door notices the one remaining light. (___)
  5. The diya keeps burning after the other lights go quiet. (___)

Fill in the Blanks

  1. Aarav stood on the _______ counting the diyas.
  2. Bauji said even a single diya can light up a whole _______.
  3. Aarav _______ his hands around the flame to protect it.
  4. A little girl called out, "Look, Ma! One _______ is still on!"
  5. The flame stayed _______ and golden through the night.

Short Answer Questions

  1. Why was Aarav worried at the start of the story?
  2. What did Bauji teach Aarav about the last diya?
  3. How did the little girl's reaction change how Aarav felt?

Need Answers Later?

Complete the worksheet first and then check your answers.

Answer Key QR Code

Scan with your phone to view the answer key online.

© English Short Stories
Small stories. Big lessons. Lifelong learning.

https://englishshortstories.com/