Swara was reclining comfortably on the couch. Her head resting on the bolster behind her... jiggling her legs.
It was around eight am.The sun shone outside...rather dully. She was savouring a few moments of aloofness before getting ready for college. Swara had drawn herself some hot bath water...cold water in this weather would rob her of the little sanity she possesses.
The tree outside was not of an evergreen variety. It had shed its leaves come fall. It would bloom again in spring. Swara had spent many a childhood fancy pretending to be a butterfly or a bird, flitting across its boughs...and having a merry time. Especially since her favourite novel in those carefree days had been Anne of Green Gables.
All sorts of muddled thoughts swarmed Swara's mind.
It was strange how promises were all around. The budding of leaves come spring, the greeting of rain come rains...the heat was promised come summer. Yes, Nature always kept her promises.
Human beings though...maybe 10% did..the remaining 90% did not.
She and Sanskaar had once promised to be married. Now they had reached a divorce. Vows meant less than seriously often crack when the storm hits. She had been foolish to assume that their vow would bend like reeds when confronted by a storm..but not break off.
Swara wondered what had gone wrong. He and her could give their lives for one another couldn't they? They were the best of friends. The trust issue----well no relationship comes with a package deal of trust. That bond takes years to grow until the pair can dance blindfolded together.
Swara sighed. The problem was much deeper.
Sanskaar had been okay with being a friend to her. It was all okay until he had kept his feelings in check. But then love came. And its not the nature of love to be undyingly patient. Its impatient as well.
Love likes to be expressed. Love wants return. Even the most unconditional love...may someday get tired of being unrequited. And decide to move on. Find a worthier mate.
All he had wanted was her undivided affection and attention. Like all husbands do. She had realised too late that he was both her best friend and her husband. Two in one--and now he had shut her off.
The problem was--she wanted in. He was an irreplaceable part of her.She wanted to make it up to him...and he wanted no part of her. All or nothing.
The maalikaka's little son had picked a fresh bunch of champa flowers. Spring was in the air..and they had started nodding their pretty heads with aplomb. The kid had brought some for Swaradidi and placed them on her bedside table. Swara stretched out her hand...lovingly inhaling their strong scent. Its headiness almost made her giddy.
Smell often triggers memories. Fond and bitter.
-
"Sanskaar next month mera college graduation hain...you'll come right?"
"Well yes, if you want me to.." he had replied from across the room.
"Mere bohot saare pictures kheechna...I want them for FB." Swara towelling her hair dry had placed her demand of her best friend.
"In what pose?"
"What pose matlab kya? Jab I will receive the certificate...jab I will celebrate with my friends...jab I will..."
"Pout and throw kisses at me?" Sanskaar had teased her. Swara clicked entirely too many pictures in the pout mode and flying kisses galore.
"Whatever. Stop teasing me. You will be my cameraman for the day." Swara appointed him then and there.
"Okay Ma'am" Sanskaar performed a smart salute...laughing.
Swara grinned too..and arranged her favourite flowers on the dresser.
-
Today was her graduation though. The black robes hired for the convocation ceremony lay spread out on the bed. Her mother and father would attend.
Her best friend..her husband, probably would not.
Brushing aside the tears which sprang into her eyes, everytime she thought of the distance between them...Swara got up to get ready.
The ceremony went well...she chirped a bit with her college friends...and her parents cheered in the crowd. But facing the fact that her husband was not there in the crowd, proudly clicking her pics, in her imagination, flashing a proud gaze at her..and the congratulations which he would have so lovingly showered her with...was not bearable.
Swara came home with a headache.
Her phone pinged. Tripti, a friend , had apparently liked a picture on her timeline.
Swara yawned disinterestedly..and opened her FB. She would like' her friends' joyous pics. Some of them happily clinging to their boyfriends ...she thought wryly.
Her graduation pic...her frozen smile, when she talked nothings with her buddies...all were captured on her timeline. Forwarded by him.
Congratulations...said the caption.
Even after the heaviest winter...spring promises bloom. And some promises are kept. No matter what.
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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone😊
