Apne <WORKING 2025>

He ran back to Amma and hugged her. “You were right,” he said. “‘Apne’ turns strangers into family. It makes the world less lonely.”

Once upon a time in a small village nestled in the hills of Uttarakhand, there lived a young boy named Raghav. He was known for his kindness, but also for a habit that worried his grandmother—he rarely used the word “apne” (meaning “one’s own” or “of us”). He ran back to Amma and hugged her

The next morning, Raghav set off. The pot was heavy, and the path was steep. Soon, he met an old woman struggling with a bundle of firewood. Remembering Amma’s words, he said, “Come, apne mata ji. Rest and drink some water.” The old woman’s eyes softened. She sat down, drank, and said, “Bless you, apne beta.” For the first time, Raghav felt a strange warmth in his chest. It makes the world less lonely

From that day on, Raghav never forgot to say “apne.” And the village noticed—because when he spoke, everyone felt a little more like they belonged. The pot was heavy, and the path was steep

At the temple, Raghav poured the remaining water at the shrine. But he realized the pot was no longer heavy. The word “apne” had filled it with something lighter than water—a sense of belonging.

Amma patted his head. “That’s the magic, Raghav. ‘Apne’ isn’t just a word. It’s a bridge.”