The Endless Wait

Was he back? Had he returned? Was that him?.....

Her mind raced this questions as her eyes were fixed on
the road that passed by her cottage. Straining her eyes to
get a better look at the shadow passing by faraway, her
eyes became moist yet again as the pain of separation
pierced through her heart.
The twilight at the horizon brought in a gush of emotions.
She reflected the moments she had spent with him. The
time when she forgot time itself. The time when it didnt
matter what the time was.
Wasnt it yesterday that he had told her that he would be
back before the stars shone on the black carpet? Or was
it at the dawn that he had promised her that he will light
the oil lamp by her side? She bewildered.
She glanced at the door with the hope that maybe he had
just returned home. The door was open. She never closed
the door as she thought the moment she left her gaze
she would lose him forever.
Suddenly she remembered she had seen him a few
minutes back. She strained her eyes again. The twilight
was fading. And, she couldnt find the shadow. She
quickly looked at the door as she thought maybe he had
reached. He wasnt there.

She cursed herself for being foolish. She cursed herself

for losing her sight on him.
Her eyes were pouring tears as she made no effort to
stop them. Her heart was beating rapidly as it could no
longer sustain the pain of separation.
She cast her eyes in the darkness.
She wondered why the day was stretching itself. It was
only a few hours back that he had told her that he was
going to the market to bring fruits as she had desired to
eat them, she deliberated. She didnt want him to go for
the fear that he would never come back. But he had
promised her that he would be back before the moon rose
up.
Her eyes looked up in the sky. She couldnt see the stars
twinkling as the moon was shining brightly.
She laughed through her tears as it was not the first time
he had broken his promise. It was his habit to break
promises, she remembered.
It was getting darker and darker.
I should light my house, she thought. He will quicken
his pace when he sees the light.
She tightened her grip on the stick that lay beside her.
Her weak knees were shaking as they could no longer
bear her thin frame. But her heart didnt give up. She
struggled to take steps although it was decades and

decades ago that she had learned how to walk. Taking a

step at a time she reached the edge of her bed.
At the corner of her room she saw a plate filled with rice
and curd. She ignored it. She didnt remember that Sham,
her son had left food for her so that she could have it in
the afternoon and at night.
She found the oil lamp. Sham had refilled it the day
before. She failed to remember that Sham had visited her
in the afternoon.
For her it was, as if it was decades back.
She found the matchstick. She lit it trying to light the wick
of the lamp.
Once. Twice. Thrice. Her shaking hands made it difficult to
light the wick. Luckily, as the breeze was asleep, the task
wasnt made difficult for her.
Finally, she lit it. The room was filled with a beam of light.
One hand firmly on the stick and the other carried the oil
lamp as made her way to the wooden chair, fumbling with
her steps again.
As she sat down placing the lamp on the frame of
window, a glass frame hung above the window, reflected
light.
Slowly her eyes cast a look at the frame.
Her beloveds photo glowed in the flickering light as tears
flowed down her face. His face reminded her of the words

he told her hurriedly, holding her hand, Ill be back

before you know, I promise.
Faded memories were beginning to flash through her
mind. She vaguely remembered him going on an urgent
duty that particular night, with never ending enthusiasm
and as always promising to come back.
As she the memories became clearer, the image of the
burning house in the village flashed in front of her.
Couples of houses were burnt; the reason for it was
unknown to her, though the rumor was it was communal
disputes.
And the smile of the girl came in front of her.
Her beloved succumbed to the burns, but saved the life of
the girl who was trapped in the inferno.
Her beloved was an unsung hero.
Her senses failed to notice that Sham had entered the
cottage.
Sham asked her the same question he had been asking
her for a decade, Ma, how long are you going to trap
yourself in the past?
She didnt reply.
Dear Ma, he was a hero. Pa gave life to that girl. Do not
shed tears.
The tears of pain were being veiled by the tears of bliss.

Proudly, she peered out of the window again as her eyes

were endlessly waiting for him, and said, He just broke
his promise..