"Hell...! It's 9 already..!" she cursed herself for not being up on time. The strange feeling of time sliding away from her grip with every passing day, striked her again. 'I have to get over this..' she told herself.
She rushed to kitchen to find Raghav already there, preparing breakfast. 'Raghav's the epitome of punctuality' she smiled as she remembered how he always made it before time to the college while she always got late. She thought of helping him with the utensils but stepped back. Raghav looked gloomy today... she wondered why.
Their marriage was just a week old.. The wedding day was vividly fresh in her mind.. She had been looking forward to it right since what seemed like eternity. They had finally stepped in a new phase of life.. a new beginning...
'I promise to come up against every sorrow my husband has to face' she had vowed afront the sacred fire. It was the time to keep her promise..
"What is it, Raghav? You look so down today..." she said, placing her henna painted hand on his shoulder.
"Where were you... I had been looking for you all over..!"
She could sense his anger. She cursed herself for getting home late at night.
"I am sorry, Raghav. You were fast asleep when I got back and I didn't want to wake you up. So I just went to sleep in the guestroom.
"I am so glad, you're back.", he hugged her.
"Where would I go.. I won't leave you that easily..!" she laughed..
He loved that smile. No matter how difficult things got, her smile always made his day.
"Now hurry up, you are getting late.. don't miss me at work, you know I will be there with you, just at the distance of a heartbeat.. So get going...!"
'... I will be there with you... just at the distance of a heartbeat...' her words brought his memories back... the car accident... the pool of blood.... her making him promise to stay calm, assuring that she would never leave him... her last breath...He suddenly turned back to find her nowhere... tears of dejection rolled down his cheeks.. He knew she would hate it. He tried to smile, feeling her presence in air that he breathed in...
"I know this is the end, Raghav... But let's make it a new beginning..." were her last words...
© Aditee
17.1.16
