Dwindling Ache - Entangling the Enigma
Author's Note: This is the second part of the story, "Dwindling Ache". Kindly go through the first part before you read this.
The Town Hall was all ornamented with fresh, bright carnations and orchids. The
exquisite velvet chairs were occupied by the masses dressed in black. From
highly illustrious personalities of television and media which comprised
eminent directors, producers, actors and journalists to all the loved near and
dear kinfolks, everyone showed their endearment and affection by their
presence.
It was the first
death anniversary of James.
I wonder how an
year passed by! It seems as if it was only yesterday when I met him for the
first time. His charming, gracious smile was something that enraptured my heart
the moment my eyes perceived it. We met at Melissa’s birthday bash. After a
brief, casual conversation, we exchanged numbers and that’s how it all began.
How an unpremeditated encounter led to the development of a passionate relationship
which was beyond this world,
flabbergasts me even today!
With a bunch of a
few lilies in my hand, I and Steven headed towards the center of the Hall,
where a huge photograph of James was kept, adorned with wreaths of several
blossoms. His gleaming blue eyes seemed so lively, so playful as if now he
would wink at me. After placing the lilies near his photograph, I lighted a
candle beside other myriad of them.
Let’s take a seat in second row. Said Steven.
I nodded.
“When
this flesh and heart shall fail,
And
mortal life shall cease,
I
shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace…”. The entire Town Hall was reverberating with
euphonious voices of sweet little girls of the choir.
Careful! You’ll hurt your hand again, love. Steven said while caressing my injured arm.
I’m fine. I smiled.
Everyone stood for the prayer. The Father commenced
chanting the sacred hymns and everyone repeated it in unison.
A quite familiar ache rushed through my heart. The old bitter, dismal
reminiscences flashed sequentially, one after the other. I still remember that
day, the most horrendous day of my life, a day which turned my entire life
course upside down.
That day, James was about to return back from Venice after a month of
shooting. We never stayed sundered from each other for such an extensive span
of time. Days felt like years without him but his ‘Don’t worry my sunshine, soon everything will be as fine as Us’, would rekindle a sanguine hope
within me, every new day!
Hey pretty! Guess what? Asked James.
What? I asked, as curious as a little lass.
The flight got delayed! He said.
Oh, not again James! Don’t test my patience with your
cretinous quips. I said
furiously.
Trust me, I’m serious! The flight has got delayed by
six hours due to intensive mist and fog as reported by the Airlines. He said.
Fine! Then, you better not come. Stay there as long as
you wish. I hung the phone.
Alas! That’s all I could say him.
“BREAKING NEWS:
South Pacific crash leaves several dead on board.”
The
last time, that very last time I couldn’t even talk to him properly. I wanted
to tell him that I love you, that I miss you, please come back soon! I wanted to say him that how much important you are to me, that you are the one who complete me, that when you are sad, my world seems to shatter
into bits, that you are my only dawn
and dusk, that you are my everything!
No matter what but I will love you till the stars go out and the tides no
longer turn…
Losing
James was as melancholic for me as the wintry withering moon. His absence went to the bottom of my soul, like a whirlwind in an abyss, and carried me away into distances of a boundless despondency. There were millions who would sympathize every now and then, but there was only
one who could empathize, who could comprehend my pangs, who could make me understand that ‘the life must go on’.
Steven
came into my life at a moment where everything seemed as lifeless as wilted
blooms. He became the luminescent aurora to my dreary darks, the radiant rainbow
to my ever stormy world and the eternally glowing flame that illuminated my tenebrous,
desolate domain. His comforting company gave me an inner strength, an
indomitable brawn, a dauntless enthusiasm to broaden my horizons and reach for
the stars. He became that supporting pillar and the impetus for my Dwindling
Ache!
…and I will dwell in the house of the
Lord, forever! We thank you Lord for the wonderful life of James Keid, for his
strength and courage, for his serene eternal life; all this we pray in His
name. Said The Father.
After
the love-feast, we bade adieu to all the guests and expressed our warm gratitude
for their genial presence.
Now, you must leave as well. May God
bless you both with His divine grace. I know wherever James is, he would be
glad and contented to see you both together. Take good care of her, Steven! Said Mrs. Keid, James’ mother.
I
and Steven drove back to home, through the crowded streets of the Park Lane, in
the midst of whirl and human rush. On one side of this wide dusty street were high, handsome towers with wonderful, fancy little shops, and on the other was an old church and churchyard, surrounded by metal palisades.
Tell me, why didn’t the skeleton
cross the road? Asked Steven,
while driving.
Maybe because he didn’t want to? I said.
No! Because he didn’t have any guts. He chuckled.
I gazed at Steven with my lips tightening under a rapid frown but then, we laughed, and laughed, and laughed…
...
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