An Undying love
"Aartiji ... Aartiji ... open your eyes, please talk to me... don't you dare leave me without saying a word," he pleaded while gently taking her hand into his. He sat there for what seemed like eternity until he got weary and dozed off. He woke up when he felt some movement.
"I knew you will be alright," he said and excitedly got up to call the doctor.
Aarti held him back to stop him, "Yashji ... stay with me ... I want to die seeing you in front of me."
"Aartiji ... you are not going to die."
"Remember Yashji... I have said that I will leave this world as your wife, look likes my wish will come true."
Hearing that he lowered his head until it touched her body and cried softly as he didn't want to alarm the rest. She gently stroked his hair and they were in that position until the inevitable reality sank into him and he learnt to accept it.
"I want to leave with sweet memories, Yashji... thank you. I cannot imagine a life without you and the kids... you have given me so much," she struggled with the words.
"Aartiji... I should be the one thanking you for coming into my life."
"I will never forget the day I first met at your friend's wedding, our shoulders brushed and that was the first time after such a long time ... I felt something ... I felt alive."
"Yashji... what are you saying? We first met at my house for the engagement," Aarti insisting he was wrong.
"Haha... I can't believe after all this years you never knew who was responsible for the stream of flowers falling on you."
She looked at him with wide eyes and said, "That idiot was you."
He nodded while still laughing.
"The whole universe was trying to bring us together including our families yet we stubbornly resisted what was our destiny," Aarti said.
"Well you always assumed that I was a pervert who wanted to take advantage and every time I tried to clear the air something else happens, remember Cafe Delight"
"Even that you blamed on me," Yash added.
"Yeah...right, who else in their right mind will choose a sleazy place like that to meet," Aarti replied.
Both of them smiled.
"Yashji... tell me more, I want to remember everything. Do you think I will remember? What if I forget you... what if I forget our love?"
Yash comforted her, "Aartiji...Don't worry you will remember, I will help you to remember. I will write you letters on your birthday and on our anniversary."
Yash caressed her frail face and Aarti remarked, "Yashji...I'm all wrinkled now and don't even look good."
"Aartiji...you always look beautiful to me."
"Yashji...yes I have a lot complaints about you," Aarti teased him.
"Whaat...still"
"Hmmm...you were and still are a difficult person to live with. Everything has its proper place and you still say, don't be late Aartiji all the time"
"And I'm glad you never gave up, had you given up I would have never learned to love again," Yash told her and held her hand gently.
"Yashji...you have to give me credit for that, you know how patiently I waited for you to say the three words."
"Aartiji...I memorized the poem the whole day to confess my love and forgot everything half-way."
"Hain... the poem...how can I forget," Aarti said and started reciting it
Chand Se Chamakti Leheron Ko Chukar
Jo Hawa Ka Jhonka Aaya Hai
Kitna Sheetal Hai
Naram Pankdhudion Ko Chedti Hui
Jo Boondh Tapki Hain
Kitni Nirmal Hain
Tumhare Mann Se, Tumhari khushboo Se Mehekta
Jo Khayal Aaya Hain
Kitna Madhosh Hain
Yash felt her cold hands, he realised she was no more. He continued,
Aur Mujhe Chookar
Tum Tak Jo Sawal Pahuncha Hain
Vo Kitna Pyaasa Hain
Kya Yahi Pyar Hain?
Ya Ab Bhi Kisi Paribhasha Ki Avashakta Hain?
"Goodbye my love and till we meet again"
