"Memories warm you up from the inside. But they also tear you apart."
Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore
Sometimes memories are the only way you relive certain situations and spend time with people who are not there in life. It was the eve of Diwali in Kolkata. The streets had a festive mood with lights adorning most of the buildings. He however was holed up at his office working on a project with some of his Muslim colleagues. The clock strike 6.
"Sir it's Diwali I think you should spend time with your family we will do all the work" Some of his employees suggested
He couldn't tell them that he did not want to go back home. He couldn't go back to their room. Not today at least. They were too many memories associated with every corner of the Maheswari mansion. However, he knew his mother would admonish him for coming late so he didn't protest.
"Happy Diwali sir. I hope you have a great one"
He pondered over what his employee had said once he was in the car. He couldn't stop himself for laughing mirthlessly. This Diwali was not going to be a happy one just like every other ritual had been after she had left so casually. He thought" Diwali toh dil walon ki hoti hain par uss nay toh mera dil he kuchal dia"
He couldn't help but remember last Diwali. How he was eagerly waiting for her to show up to the factory but she got stuck in traffic. Later he learned she was trying to help Laksh and Ragini. She always chose other people over him. Last year however had been a lot of fun since they had become friends and than fallen in love. He missed their flirty banter. He missed when things between them were so simple that they could understand each other's silence.
On the other side of the town Swara was also not faring well. The whole Badi was decorated and everyone was celebrating but she didn't feel like it. No ritual without him had any meaning. She didn't even want to dress up but than Ragini forced her to change so they could go and celebrate Diwali. She knew her sister wanted to divert her mind away from Laksh so she agreed. She opened her wardrobe and then her eyes landed on the dress he had gotten for her last year. Memories flooded her brain.
She was trying to light the dia's and he was helping her after coming back from the office. She told him about her trip to Banaras.
"No mat jaon na Swara main jeeu ga kaisay" He had said and then had bent his heard almost about to burn himself. She had taken the candle away from his hand he again said" Keh raha than a nahi jee paon ga agar tum nahi hogi bachany ko". At that time those words heard felt harmless but now they held some unexplainable power on her. With a jolt she realized she had left him and he was dying a bit everyday. She knew he was drowning his sorrows in alcohol. How she wished in that moment that she could just run to him, apologise and reassure him that she would never leave. Diwali is the festival of lights and the truth is both of them were each other's light. Their lives were so dark and grim without each other.
"The only reason people hold onto memories so tight is because memories are the only things that do not change when every thing else does"
A/N: WOW I WROTE 3 DRABBLES TODAY. SORRY FOR THE SPAM. HOPE YOU GUYS LIKE IT😆
Shiv Shakti
