A SS loving Shadow

The girl in early twenties sat there with her head on her knees in one corner of the room. The room was dark only light came from the window. Still the light in the room was dim as the opaque not so healthy glass filtered the moon light. The shimmering moon light magnified the beauty of the red dress beside the girl. It seemed as if it was a long time since it was outshone to the direct moon light. The dress looked aged but, very dear to the girl. The girl ran her hands over that dress as if she loved to feel the heat of loving memory flowing out. The room was quiet. Even the site of the nature from that window proved its true friendship with the girl. The ever zealous nature was also hushed supporting the gloomy mood of the little spirit. She had been sitting like that since quite long that now she seemed like portrait. Suddenly some footsteps bothered the absorbing statue sitting at that corner. She raised her head to seek out the source of sound. Her eyes at length rested on resembling slippers which matched that dress. Then she dragged her eyes to the dress and was dazed to notice the same red shiny mirror embedded dress. To check her eyes she just gave a look by her side and just found the broken floor reflecting her face in place of that dress which was giving her warmth till now. She eventually moved her eyes again to the resembling figure and was shocked to fix her eyes on the radiant face which she had not seen since last seventeen long years. The light coming from the eyes of that heavenly face had the same innocence, love and care only the difference was that this time it was unearthly. Her eyes were now squelchy. Her lips trembled. She wanted to speak but her gut had caught a chill. Yet she tried collecting her voice and cried standing "Mother". Her one word was just enough to get the face of that resembling figure change and set to the old motherly expressions. Both were quiet for a while and just stared each other. The eyes of that figure were calling. The girl now felt herself and her thoughts dissolving in the light coming to her. She was now in a different world which was known to her in the past.

She was merrily stepping out of the door with the bat once given by her mother in her hands when she heard her loving mother calling out her name. She quickly ran to her "Mom you called?" Her mother gladly gave her some flowers and smiled "Yes, Sonia. May God bless you for your match today!" The girl very elatedly thanked her mother and gave her a big hug.

The love between them was invincible but who knew that there love would soon be lost in the dark hands of the practices in the village. Unaware of the time rushing against them, both went on their work. The girl left the house to the field. Cricket had been her passion. She was there on field in no time and was there playing with boys who were all near her age. They had been reluctant to have the only girl with them in the start but her skills had forced them kneel down and change the stereotype. She was there on the crease batting. Her first ball was a swift four and the next ball a huge six. Just when she moved her hands to hit the third ball her eyes spotted a stature of an angry man staring at her. Her sight then was clear to notice her father. Her hands trembled and missed the clear stroke for a six. Her team captain moved to her "What did you do?" He then noticed her frightened. He didn't know for what, until her father was visible in the field. The huge muscular figure obstructed the sunlight falling right on Sonia's face. His aggression was catching more heat. He spoke in not so happy voice "What the hell are you doing here? Playing? Girls never play." He held Sonia's hand and started dragging her out of the field. Her father's hand was too severe on her. She was crying for mercy. Her new friends supported her but her father was very boorish "Get lost from here!"

Her father dragged her to the house and started scolding her and was about to slap her when her mother came in between and saved her. Sonia's father had a streak of violence flowing through him. He was just too displeased to see his daughter play. After all he too had the same opinion that girls should not be respected like the boys. His anger was out of his control because of the disobedience of Sonia and his wife to support her play. "Today I'll teach you a lifelong lesson." His father said this and took up the knife and killed her beloved mother and his wife without contemplation. Sonia couldn't see her mother still bloody fallen on the floor so just forced her eyes shut and screamed.

Her scream got her back in the present. Where the figure of her mother stood as it is with her expressions once again moulded but this time portraying the same separation feeling as on Sonia's face. Sonia was sobbing but still managed to speak "Where were you? I have been missing you since so long. Please come back. I promise I would never let you down. This time I will fight for you, mother. I can't live without you please come. I'm all by myself." She fumbled. Her mother spoke in a genteel consoling voice "Don't cry dear! I have always been by your side since last seventeen years. I have never left you alone. I have been your shadow. The shadow that always followed you in light but, always remained dark in colour. I absorbed all the darkness so that you could walk in light." Sonia was not satisfied "Then why couldn't I see you?" Her mother was still urbane "When you were walking in light I never wanted dark to over pass you. What you have done in all these years is walking in to light. You have made schools for girls where all of them can play, study and learn. I'm just too proud dear." Sonia now looked a little relaxed "I knew that you would be proud. I still remember you telling me about many kids who have to suffer so much. You told me about the misery young kids have to suffer. How with so many hardships they dream about Children's Day. The day when children expect happiness to knock the doors of their life. So to make you exultant and contented I did this. I gave those kids a gift this children's day!" Her mother's eyes now grew numb. "No wonder I decided to save you that day. You are a diamond to the world. I love you." Sonia was by now smiling with tears flowing down her cheek "I love you too. Now you won't leave me mother right?" The figure now became dizzy. Sonia couldn't understand why the figure became dizzy was it because of her tears or her mother was now once again disappearing. Only her mother's voice could be heard now "I'm not leaving you. I'll always be with you. You'll never be alone. I'm your soul. Remember our love is invincible."

Her mother was now no more in the room. The light from her glowing mother was gone. Once again the room had turned dark. Only figure outline which could be seen was of her father leaning at the door. He walked in. His personality had changed. He was now the God of Mercy and Calm behaviour. His tone was too civil "I'm sorry for what I did to you." Sonia was too suave "I forgave you long back dad. The day I saw guilt in your eyes for what you did and helped me with mom's dream I was mesmerised." She hugged her dad. Even the dark now couldn't envelope the charming love between the three.