The Tale of the Headache

Rimi lives in a small village surrounded by lush green paddy fields and the gentle murmur of a nearby river. She’s a nineteen-year-old college student, and her days are usually filled with books, chats with friends, and helping her mother in the kitchen. But for the past few weeks, Rimi has been troubled by something—a persistent headache. Sometimes it’s a dull ache on one side of her head, and other times it feels like her entire head is throbbing. This story is about why Rimi’s headaches started and how she found a way to overcome them.

One morning, Rimi woke up with her head pounding. She thought maybe she hadn’t slept well the previous night. After all, she often stayed up late scrolling through her phone, reading stories, or chatting with friends. That day, she dragged herself to college, but sitting in class, she couldn’t focus. The teacher’s words seemed to float right through her head. Her friend Riya noticed something was off—Rimi’s eyes were red, and her face looked pale. “What’s wrong, Rimi? Are you feeling okay?” Riya asked. Rimi sighed, “My head’s been hurting a lot. I don’t know why.”

When she got home, Rimi told her mother, “Ma, my head hurts. Can you do something?” Her mother, a little worried, gave her a glass of water and a paracetamol tablet. But the pain didn’t go away. Her mother said, “You’re always on that phone of yours. Maybe it’s straining your eyes. Rest for a bit.” Rimi listened and put her phone aside, but deep down, she felt the headache wasn’t just because of her phone.

The next day, Rimi visited the local doctor, Dr. Shantinath, a kind man known to everyone in the village. He listened carefully as Rimi described her symptoms. “How many hours do you sleep? How much water do you drink in a day? Are you under any stress?” he asked, one question after another. Rimi replied, “I sleep about five or six hours. I drink maybe two or three glasses of water. And stress? Well, I do feel a bit tense about college assignments and exams.” Dr. Shantinath smiled and said, “There you go. We’ve found the reasons behind your headache.”

He explained that Rimi’s headaches could be caused by several factors. First, lack of sleep. The brain needs enough rest to function properly, and Rimi’s late-night phone use was cutting into her sleep time. Second, dehydration. Not drinking enough water can trigger headaches. Third, stress. The pressure of college work and thoughts about the future were weighing on Rimi’s mind, even if she didn’t fully realize it. On top of that, staring at her phone screen for hours was straining her eyes, which made the headaches worse.

Dr. Shantinath gave Rimi some advice. She needed to sleep at least seven to eight hours every night. She should drink at least eight to ten glasses of water daily. She had to cut down on phone use, especially before bedtime. He also suggested some light exercise, like walking, to keep her body and mind refreshed. “If you feel the stress is getting too much, come back to me,” he added. “We’ll figure out a solution.”

Rimi went home determined to follow the doctor’s advice. That night, she turned off her phone and picked up a book instead. The first few days were tough—staying away from her phone felt unnatural. But slowly, she noticed changes. She was sleeping better, and her headaches were less frequent. She started going for walks by the river in the mornings. The sight of the green fields and the sound of birds chirping calmed her mind.

One day, Riya came over and said, “Rimi, you look so fresh! How’s the headache?” Rimi smiled and replied, “It’s much better. I’ve been following the doctor’s advice. And you know what? Cutting down on my phone has helped me focus better on my studies too.” Riya grinned, “Maybe I should try that myself.”

A few weeks later, Rimi’s headaches had almost disappeared. She realized that small mistakes in her daily routine—like not sleeping enough, drinking too little water, and spending too much time on her phone—had caused the problem. With enough sleep, proper hydration, and a calmer mind, her life felt normal again. Now, Rimi walks by the river every morning, spends time with her friends, and focuses on her studies. Her headache wasn’t just a problem—it was a lesson. It taught her how small changes can make a big difference in life.