Once, it so happened that
Beloved, the epitome of love and happiness was tearful. Death, a hurtful truth
had wrapped its arms around somebody who was very close to her life. Her eyes
that gleamed hope and joy was moistened with never ending tears. She endlessly
cried, refraining both food and water.
Today, Pratik was witness to
grief that no words could ever explain. Wrapped in Pratik’s arms, he would try
to console his Beloved that death was inevitable. He chocked as he fought to
find words that would help Beloved to end the painful tears—both to her and to
Pratik. With every word Pratik spoke, Beloved broke down into tears, and seeing
her tears, his eyes too filled with tears…yet he had to be stronger. Once in a
while, he would take his hands up to his eyes and wipe those tears that were
about to fall…then, he would once again hold Beloved tight and try to console
her. Yet, each time, he was fighting a losing battle. With every word he spoke,
his eyes too moistened and he chocked; again; one again; and again and
again.
Beloved cried like she had never
cried before. And in tears, she whispered, fighting as much for words as to stop
the falling tears. She wiped her tears and whispered as she choked, “Nothing,
and nothing in this world can be considered to last long. Love, friendship,
kinship, this that…we all are held together by a breakable thread tied with
hopes of longevity which might be cut short at any point of time.” And she
cried.
What Beloved had spoken was
eternal truth. Indeed, in the end, no matter how much one wished, nothing would
last forever. The length would depend on the years that each individual lives
lived and shared. And Beloved was true.
Every relation that human beings shares in their journey called life was held
by a breakable thread. Indeed, even when one wished that these relationships
would continue forever, they were so frail that they could be cut short at any
point of time.
Pratik fought with words and
whispered, as his Beloved again sobbed. “I know Beloved. Nothing will ever stay
forever. We are all on bound to die. But do you know something?” As Pratik
spoke, he tried to raise Beloved’s head that rested on his shoulder so that he
could see her. Beloved refrained and rested her head on his shoulders
again. “Do you know something Beloved?”
Pratik queried again and sobbingly, Beloved replied “What?”
“Memories Beloved. Memories that
will stay with us forever because we have shared so much of our life’s journey.
This stays with us for the rest of our lives. And Beloved, this is so strong
that nobody can neither steal nor break. It is what you and the other person
share…and do you know that you share these memories forever Beloved? Forever
and always. It will stay with you…regardless of the distances you cover and
uncover. It stays with you giving you joy and hopes for the rest of your life.”
Somehow, these words finally seemed
to hold back further tears from Beloved, and he sighed a relief. Pratik’s heart
thumped in joy…but also in some pain in the depths of his heart that he did not
want Beloved to know. These were questions whose answers, Pratik never longed
to answer.
“I love you Beloved,” Pratik
spoke and he swallowed the words as he choked. Then, Beloved slowly rose her
head and just when she was about to look him at his face, Pratik wiped his
tears.
Their eyes met—Beloved’s looked
pacified somehow but Pratik’s eyes were tearful. Yet, he smiled and whispered,
“I love you Beloved” and wrapped himself in her arms which he never wished to
let go. “I love you too Pratik,” Beloved spoke.
From behind, Pratik wiped his
tears that he had withheld for so long. His eyes drifted to the very questions
that he never longed to answer and his heart beat.
