It’s really cold and the sun is still sleeping. The windows are closed and he could hear the sound of water dripping from the leaking tap. She is sleeping next to him holding his hands with the innocence of an infant. Some early birds have started chirping. But he was determined to get up. He got up from bed without disturbing her , washed his face wrote a note that he is going for a walk and went out slowly closing the cottage door. First he thought about taking the car then he decided to walk. The watchman greeted him with a pleasant smile, the same old smile
When he was walking towards the lake all the thoughts came to his mind.... his wife.... the way she responded when he decided to go to this place. She said, “Why u wana go to this place! Is this place there in the map? Why should we loose the chance to go to Singapore”
He reached that road with trees on either side and covered with dry leaves. The leaves seem to cry when he stepped on it .it seems they also share his grief. The trees stood still without even moving a single leaf it seems the trees were shocked at this.
He was walking straight with his head down looking at something he have lost there. Suddenly he stopped there staring at one-tree tears rolled down from his eyes. He went near the tree with a low lying branch and touched the branch.
He face came to his mind, blurred and covered in fog. The eyes always afraid …the smile. He could feel her breath in his ears. All the naggings and sweet fights. It was four years back that they came to this place. They were deeply in love, inseparable. They studied in same college they were working in the same company and now she got a transfer. But he had never kissed her before never touched her except for holding her hand.
She was moving to her new office and he just wanted to drop her they just came here took a cottage and it was in the evening that they reached here. They were tired after the long drive and wanted to go to sleep she was sleeping on the bed and he was sleeping on the couch. Morning she woke him up it was really cold she seems to be fresh and the window was open. She asked him for a walk and he said yes he got ready and went out of the cottage. The watchman greeted him with a smile full of respect and affection.
They walked through the road to the lake on the way she spotted the tree with the low lying branch and they went towards it she sat on the branch and the silence was full of fragrance. Now he hissed her on the forehead she closed her eyes there was a bash of rain god had showered his blessing on them She told him” When good things happen it always rains”. He took her hand and walked towards the lake they sat there watching the tree standing alone in the middle of the lake.
They came back from the lake got dressed and dropped her at the bus stand and she said she will call up as soon as she reach the new place he went back home and…she never called up. He tried in her mobile no response then tried the office they said she didn’t join there called her home and got the message that the number Is not in use
He was desperate left alone he never heard a word from her again. Due to the compulsion he had to get married
The tears stopped it rained again he walked back to cottage and she was taking bath and she asked, “ Who is that?” He replied, “ I am back “ She said, “ Are you mad to go out at this time, I still wonder why have we come to this place” He didn’t reply She said “ Do u get coffee here? Please order one for me!, did we forget to bring the camera ?” He replied, “ I think so!”
He heard a beep from her mobile he took it .it was an SMS “ Dear I’m missing you so badly how are you when will you come back if possible call back” the number was familiar There was no change of expression on his face, plain, clear left alone. He said “ You have an SMS “ she said “ok leave it”
She came out from bathroom and saw the sms when he was sitting there and smoking he asked how is this place, his eyes were wet. She came near him held his hands and said it’s nice. …But we’ll go to Singapore next time….
