He sat by her side, holding her hand. She smiled at him and said “; don’t be… this is life. People come and go, I am going. And I don’t want you to come with me. You have my love in your heart to keep you strong and move on in life; find a wonderful woman to grow old with. You will, right?’ Her tone was firm yet beseeching. He felt his heart tighten with emotion. Before he knew it, a few tears fell from his eyes. She said”, I hate tears, Pushpa”.
He smiled, in spite of himself. He looked into her eyes. They were luminous, radiant pools of light. It has always been her eyes that captivated him. Whenever she used to look at him, he used to feel as if she was inside his mind and heart; there was nothing hidden from her. How could there be, in the face of such deep love? And he liked the fact that there were no secrets from her, even though many things were always unsaid. He always knew were they said, she would have understood. A thought that enveloped him like a cozy blanket. To be totally understood, just as one is… extremely rare.
She softly said his name and he bent down to listen “, you are my strength. Don’t think I am not afraid of dying, but I am brave because you are here with me. Love gives you courage to face all, even one’s own death. Hain naa”? He nodded yes, unable to speak.
“, and also courage to live in spite of a loved one’s death, meri jaan, because love itself never dies, yaad rakhna. Rakhoge naa? Apni zindagi bharpoor jeena and if someone holds out a hand, reach out, if it doesn’t work out; be sure another hand will come your way; you just have to have faith in love.
And the sun set at 9:45 am.
