Sunday, April 8, 2007

Epilogue

Shiva’s mother answered the door bell. She opened the door and saw Shweta standing in the patio. She had moved away after ringing the bell. Shiva’s mother hated her. She felt Shweta had taken her son away from her. She was not willing to accept that even he liked Shweta.

Shweta saw Shiva’s mother opening the door. She didn’t know what to tell her. She stood waiting for Shiva’s mother to talk.

Shiva’s mother then talked, “I will not let you see him. Go away. Please! Please leave him alone”

Shiva heard his mother talking to someone. Then he heard the last few words. He knew who had come. He got out of his bed and hurried to the door. She heard his son coming towards the door and blocked the way. In the meanwhile, Shweta turned around and started walking out. Shiva pushed his mother aside with his left hand and ran out. Shweta saw him coming and stopped in her tracks. It had been more than a month since they talked. Shiva’s parents, his mother in particular, had kept a close watch on him and not allowed him to call her. Nor did she inform him if Shweta called. He slowed down as he approached her.

“Shiva! Come back!” Shiva’s mother yelled; more out of love than anger. She began to weep. She knew he wouldn’t listen. He was too deeply involved.

Shiva turned around and answered his mother. “Have I ever asked anything from you till now? Have I ever disrespected you? All these years, I didn’t know what I wanted. And I needed your guidance. Have I ever questioned your decisions even if I didn’t like it? Now I am grown. I can decide what is best for me. Why do you try to impose your ideas on me? The good times are yet to come. The worst is over. I am fine now. And I also promise this. I will not let my relationship with Shweta affect my studies. Ok? Now, I am going for a walk. Please! Let me be free. You know that I love you all. I also love her. Why don’t you accept her as one among us?” With that he started walking. Shweta wanted to talk to his mother. She wanted to apologise one more time. But he held her by her arm and dragged her out of his house.

Shweta saw seeing Shiva for the first time after the bandages had been removed from his face. His hand was still supported on a sling. But the sight of his face made her start weeping. His nose was contorted. A big scar ran down from his left eye to his lips. His left eye was smaller than his right and partially closed. His upper lip was split and air escaped through them when he spoke. He struggled to talk and his words went unfinished. He had lost weight and appeared very lean.

He saw her weeping. He wiped her tears and spoke. “The healing has been slow; not just the hand. Nobody can tell how happy I feel. You are here. Wish I could have you by me always.”

They walked for ten minutes. Neither of them spoke. He was still thinking about what he had told his mother. He felt bad. She knew what was running through his mind. Even she had said the same to her parents.

They entered a park and sat under a huge tree in one of the corner. It was three thirty in the afternoon. The park was deserted except for a few children playing in one corner. The day was gloomy. The sun hadn’t shown its face since morning and the rain threatened to break out of the clouds any moment. The breeze was strong and it was chill. It made the leaves in the trees around to rustle. He looked into the sky. He saw birds flying.

She hugged him. He let out a slight groan. His hand hurt. But she didn’t release her hold. He didn’t want to ask her to move away. He gently snuggled out of her grip and looked at her. She appeared like a child. He wanted to kiss her. He bent over a placed a quick one on her lips. Then he said, “I love you Shweta. Will you marry me?”

She looked at him long and replied. “Of course sweetheart, I will. Let the time come. I definitely will. Till then, we shall be just like this; married in our hearts. I’ll be there for you. Just you. Nothing can separate us. I love you”

After what seemed to be an eternity to both of them, they were happy. Happiness that they knew, would last forever.

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