The weather outside was finally a little chilled as finally after what felt like ages, the rainy season has finally arrived. The sky now never fails to capture hearts of every passerby. The aroma of mud because of the first rain is something that tugs a different sting of one’s heart. The chirps of birds, noise of traffic, children playing in the rain: making paper boats, splashing water on one another was what everyone expects in this beautiful weather.
Inside a bedroom of a penthouse apartment, on the cotton sheets laid an elderly woman in her mid-60s: PRIYA. She lay beneath the faded cotton sheets, her frame slight, her respirations shallow and deliberate. Through the condensation fogging the plastic of her mask, the world was blurring at the edges, but she could still hear them. Her body was connected to a monitor which was tracking her vital signs: including heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation. Beside her stood her loved ones: her brother and his wife with their now grown-up kids, her best friend: Meisha and lastly her adopted daughter: Riya.
The rhythmic beeping of the monitor had long since become uneven, each sound carrying the dreadful certainty of an ending. She could hear the sniffs of her sister-in-law, the grounded presence of her younger brother and the quiet shifting of the children. Her eyes went to her long-term best friend who stood there with watery eyes and then to her daughter who was looking at her with a heavy heart, tears flowing non-stop.
Priya adopted Riya when she was just 07. Since then, both mother-daughter have been best friends and each other’s anchor. Priya was the only parent that Riya had, the only support pillar of hers.
Riya looked at Meisha who was already looking at her. Riya knew, if there’s someone who would be another mother to her, then it would always be Meisha.
Amidst all this, Priya’s mind was drifting, caught in the undertow of an older current. Her eyes went to a wardrobe near the dressing table. The door was slight open; peeking through the gap was an old-fashioned Red Dress, its structured collar and embroidery speaking of a design from about two decades of past. Her breath raged slightly as her eyes caught the sight.
Struggling to get some energy, Priya’s hand stirred against the sheet. With great effort she moved her trembling hand and pointed towards the wardrobe. Her head shaking as much as her hand was, as she put in the little energy of hers.
The family stood confused, but Meisha? She was already on her feet to get that dress out. As Meisha took out the dress, Priya’s body started shaking more violently, her palm opened as if she’s begging to get that dress.
“Mom-Mom relax!” Riya worried seeing her mother’s state.
Meisha came there and kept a hand on Riya’s shoulder and sighed her to calm down. Meisha placed the dress in Priya’s hand who clutched it and bringing it to her chest, she hugged it close. Her eyes that were glossy on seeing Meisha bring the dress, now released tears.
Her family members were however confused. Riya turned to Meisha, her glossy eyes demanded answer.
“Maasi, what’s about this dress? Mom never let me touch it. Not even once” Meisha looked at Priya whose trembling hands were slowly caressing the dress.
“It was a gift” Meisha replied, her throat tightened at a memory of Priya expressing her happiness on getting this gift flashed in front of her eyes.
Gulping a huge lump, she continued, “A gift from someone your mother ever loved.”
A lone pair of tear escaped her eye as she recalled how happy Priya used to be in her early 20s. With great difficulty, she uttered the name, “Ri-Ritwik”.
Riya and everyone else over there stood confused. Even Priya’s brother; how was he never aware of someone this close to his sister?? Unaware to him, this little secret was only shared to Meisha.
“Ritwik? I never heard mom talk about this man!” Riya said, her eye again and again going back and forth to her mother who was still caressing the dress with tears still falling down.
“Circumstance didn't allow them to be together, but she never stopped loving him.” Meisha said, smiling sadly.
“Where is he now?” Riya asked.
Meisha sniffed hearing Riya asking so many questions, all at the wrong time. But she knew it’s on her now. It’s only she who could answer, and Riya must know.
“Rit-Ritwik is right where your mom is going to be” Meisha said as her eyes dropped tears as the memory of Priya almost going crazy after Ritwik’s death flashed in front of her eyes.
Riya and everyone else gasped hearing her. Their eyes travelled to Priya who was looking at Meisha. Meisha came and stood by her best friend who held her hand. With trembling body and high breaths, Priya kept Meisha hand over Riya’s; asking for one last promise: to take care of her daughter. Meisha nodded.
Priya turned her head just enough to meet her daughter's gaze. Through the plastic of the mask, she offered a small, tearful, reassuring smile: a silent parting assurance that love, in the end, is never lost. Then she took one final, deliberate look around the room; to her brother, her family, and the faithful friend who had guarded her secret for so long. Then, she closed her eyes and pulled in one last, peaceful breath.
The long, unbroken tone of the monitor cut through the silence, and the room fractured into quiet weeping. But beneath the sorrow, there was a profound stillness. Priya’s hands remained resting on her chest, her fingers locked in a tight, unyielding grip around the crimson dress, finally carrying its memory into the light.
And she started her journey, A journey that would lead her to Her Ritwik.
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