Tears in Heaven

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.