She stood there glancing at the belongings of the room for the last time. They weren't mere possessions, each and every item held a galore of memories associated with them. She smiled widely looking at photo frames which she arranged with much passion. She slowly went and touched all those pictures remembering all the moments when they were taken. Each and every picture held an important memory of their life through years. Their first holiday, his first award as best employee, their first date, the day when he finally got promoted as Vice-President of his company, their late night ice-cream party, their first step in this house after turning it into their home and many more.
She went towards their bed-side table where a white dove figurine is placed which he purchased from a local charity to please her when they had their first fight after coming to this house,. It was very silly, atleast according to him. She was feeling low for past few days that he had to leave his family and fight with them for her. She kept on saying that she doesn't deserve his love, that he deserves a much better person than her. He tried to convince her that no one can match up to him as her. But guess she was not in a mood to understand and he for the first time raised his voice on her and left the house angrily only to come back with a beautiful white dove figurine. She was in their bedroom lying on bed all curled up. She was feeling very low for making him upset and promised herself not to let this topic breach ever again. Finally she understood that they can never be happy being alone or staying apart. That day she had decided that from then on they were just for each other. After a while he came to the room and kneeled in front of her while she sat up on bed. Before she could say something he put his hand forward which was all the while behind him. She took the cute white dove from his hand while he held his ears and mouthed a sorry in a damn cute manner. She couldn't help but to laugh and instantly hugged him while he hugged her as close to him as possible. That day she promised him not to argue or fight with him anymore.
She chuckled remembering how sincerely and seriously she promised that day only to break it again and again. Guess, that is the only promise she broke, well she can't help it. A married life is incomplete without fights between the couple. She turned around and saw the room as a whole. Not everything was rosy, the room held as a witness to their ugly fights as well. There were days when they fought like it was the end of their relation and didn't bother to make up to each other, well there was no need for that. No matter how much they resented each other at that moment, he still never allowed her to leave the room and she never left actually. It was theirs and they had to be together, they are meant to be together. After every argument they had, the next morning she would as usual welcome him with a steaming cup of coffee and he would welcome her with his ever charming smile. And that would mark the end of their fight, they never stretched their fight more than a day.
She let her hand feel the softness of the duvet on the bed. There were times where they just lay snuggled up to each other inside the duvet and talk about anything and everything. She slightly chuckled remembering how he used to admire her and her blabbering, right from complaining about their neighbour, the maid who came one hour late, the sudden hike in vegetable prices, the new cake recipe she tried that day which eventually became a disaster, forgetting to wash the soaked clothes when being busy to clear up the mess she created while making the cake, what all and what not. .
She went near her cupboard and opened the drawer and started pulling out the things. First she took out all the numerous cards for birthdays and anniversaries which they made for each other. She never bought any card for him instead whatever gift she gave was made by her, even those cards. His each birthday card held all those memories they made together the previous year and their each anniversary card held all the wishes they want to fulfill the coming year.
Next what she took out was the most precious thing of her entire life, she finally found what she is actually searching for. For everyone it may just seem to be a bunch of papers but only she knows how priceless they are. It is that same letter which he gave her writing all his bottled up feelings he had for her when she thought of leaving him. Parting away from him is the most difficult decision she had to take till date. Even though she thought of doing that for his own good but drowned in her own miseries she forgot to realize where his true happiness lies. She just became miserable when she got to know that she could not bear him a child. Her miseries added up when her own in laws and their relatives tried to force him to leave her and get married again. He constantly tried to explain his parents, for her, for them, but guess she is not as strong as him. May be even he would do the same thing when placed in the same situation as hers and she would do the same as him. Till that moment, she never knew that he is crazily in love with her. Yes, they were happy couple, he admired her. But theirs being an arranged marriage and him being an introvert, there was not much space for words between them.
There was always a silent understanding and he always understood what she wants even before she says. But her one decision has completely changed him, transformed him into a new person. That decision made him realize how important it is to express our feelings to our partner. When she had told him her decision to leave, he did not scream or shout at her. As a matter of fact he did not even say anything, he just moved away from the place. More tears started rolling on her already rosy cheeks but she simply started her task of packing her things. She packed her bags and waited for him to come so that she can see him for one last time and get one last goodbye hug. He just came to her forwarding his hand with few papers. She looked at him perplexed and took them while he silently left the room again. She started reading and tears never stopped leaving her eyes till the moment she read the last line of the letter. He has expressed all his feelings through that letter. He has written how he used to admire all her antics. The way she used to frown when he purposely opened the curtain early in the morning, how she secretly used to eat paneer pieces in her favourite curry, how she secretly made paper boats and leave that in the water while washing clothes, how she used to drool over him while he is wearing clothes after shower and then how she hits her head for openly drooling her husband, he has written every itsy-bitsy thing about her and how he fell in love with all those things. He never missed having a child because she made up for it. She felt truly blessed for getting such a husband and even she never missed having a baby after that. That day he decided he has to take a final decision on the matter and talk to his parents on not talking about kids every again. That day for the first time saw a completely different shade of her husband. Previously when they tried to convince him for second marriage he calmly tried to explain them, sometimes argue with them. But that day he actually fought with his parents and when they did not budge he decided to leave the house forever. That day she realized beneath his calm demeanour, he possessed the pride of a lion and rage of a bull. The only thing he took from there was the rocking chair of his grandfather's whom he is very fond of.
From that moment he became her child and has completely changed himself. He used to fight, complain, whin and does everything like a child. Infact he started speaking more than her. She never felt sad for not being able to do things for their kid, like singing a lullaby because he made her sing for himself, feeding her kid because she used to feed him breakfast whenever he has to leave early to office, patting her kid to sleep because he used to lie on her lap whenever he misses his mom and she used to pat him to sleep.
Finally she came to the rocking chair which is placed at one corner. This one held a huge place in his heart, why not when his emotions are attached to it. He would say that if he gets into some problem and needs a solution for it, all he needs to do is to sit on that chair and relax. He would automatically get the solution but she used to tease him a lot saying that all this is just his misconception and he is actually talking like an old man. She would tease him furthermore saying he is becoming an oldie these days and not spending time with her or being romantic with her and he would prove her wrong in his own sweet ways.
She slowly sat on the chair and started caressing the arms of the chair ever so smoothly as if they were his arms she is caressing. The moment she sat on the chair she smiled as she felt she is being in his arms snuggling close to him. She then started to remember all those beautiful memories she made with him. In their 48 years of marriage she never had any complaints with him except when he forgets to dry his towel after shower, when he promises to take her out but end up in office till late night, when he takes hell lot of time to get ready when they finally plan to go out, his hell irritating snoring habit which he got after becoming VP, skipping his breakfast or lunch due to office work.. Fine, fine there were many but they never held any importance infront of the immense love he showered on her all his life. She clutched the arms of the chair more trying to actually feel him more. Finally she stopped clutching and kissed the ring on her left hand which was given by him on their first date when he for the first time said those three magical words to her. Slowly darkness consumed her and her lashes dropped taking her to the most peaceful sleep she ever had with a smile lingering on her lips. Why not, when she knows this sleep would take her to him marking the beginning of their eternal togetherness. The death which has taken him away from her is now taking her to him finally getting them together, forever. How can a mere death separate them, how can she let an outside force win. She has to prove that no force not even god can separate them, not in this lifetime or beyond that. They are going to be together, they are meant to be together, till eternity.
154