Loud cries, scattered earthen pot, lit up pyre.

She woke up in horror as the nightmare ended. A deep breath, it’s okay.

Involuntarily, like everyday, she’d turn towards her right, to play with his hair and kiss his forehead before beginning with the day. And she did, only to be reminded that nothing was the same. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she slid her hand on the empty half of the bed, where if it hadn’t been for a tenebrous Friday, he’d have been sleeping right now, right next to her.

It was the first thought that came to her as she woke up. He was gone. And, soon, this bedroom, the house in whose eastern corner it sat, and the tiny garden outside with its gnarled old red hibiscus and the half-grown mango tree they had planted together, all those would be gone as well. It was the strangest feeling ever.

It was disturbing how in one day, her life had been pulled upside-down – A day that started with the news of her brother-in-law betraying her husband for property, by forging the documents, thereby resulting in her husband’s death due to a heart-attack by the evening. It broke her down. And now, she wasn’t able to stop herself from crying. But why with my sweet little world?

Crying, she heaved herself from the bed and dragged her feet towards her little garden. Her tears started to dry up as the hibiscus caught her eyes. It reminded her of a conversation that she had with her beloved a few days back when she was feeling bad about an old flower, whose life was fading away.

******************

“Life always comes to an end, Aanya. You should focus more on nurturing the little bud.” said Nirmay while digging the soil.

“But this flower was so beautiful and aromatic, Nirmay.” Aanya protested like a little child.

“I know that you care about life but you should understand that everything withers away with time. The beauty and fragrance of the flower shall stay in our memories. Nurture and take care of the future. Life keeps replenishing itself. So, keep moving on and on.” elucidated Nirmay.

*******************

Those words were still echoing in Aanya’s mind. She wiped off her tears and tried to bring on a smile as she realized that Nirmay would never be gone. It was time to recuperate from the loss and prepare for the hard time that awaited her. She went inside the house to begin with the daily chores and get ready. While packing her stuff, she found a photograph of Nirmay in a bag. She turned it back and wrote on it- “Does life stop or finish? No, never.” A smile followed.

She put back the photograph in the bag and called the cab. The cab arrived after 5 minutes and during this time, she strolled through the house one last time. The driver loaded the luggage in the taxi. As the driver started the car, Aanya took one last gaze at the house she once lived in. It’ll be fine. I’ll survive.

She sat back in the cab and tried to relax. A new life was waiting for her.