An old friendship
She was closely looking at the image. The last day of their school. She could easily locate
herself, her braided hair was thick and long. She could also locate Apala, Bindu, and Jasmine.
She forgot many faces amongst the boys. She could obviously remember few old friends.
A few of them got reconnected with her after long...long years. He was one of them.
He sounded sad for her.
“How did it happen ?”
“Not sure.” She wanted to bypass this topic.
Life is strange in all the strangest possible ways. Her divorce was no exception to
that. They were a gentle, happy couple. They loved to walk in the rain holding each other’s hands. All rain eventually dried up, None is left there to hold her hand. She gradually did overcome the pain but got devastated inside with her loneliness. The sky still gets full of floating clouds, drops of rain still moisten the hot soil, and she still longs for a walk in the rain. But not all those dreams she would try to turn into reality. No longer of those old dreams, no more.
Simi got really happy to reunite with old friends. Rene and Mondol both are working in high official positions. Mondol has a cute little daughter and a very happy family. Rene is still a bachelor and for some mysterious reason, he is always reluctant to talk about marriage.
Simi was checking the fridge. She was determined to skip the grocery for this week anyhow.
There were eggs, fish, and milk and there was no chicken or beef. Simi was absolutely fine to go without chicken or beef. In no way, she would waste any more time on food this week, this week got already heavy on the project deadlines. She was fully occupied.
She was totally submerged in her projects the whole morning. She turned her cell phone off in the meantime. Words filled up her thinking mind, her laptop screen. She was fully done by 3 PM and she was feeling awfully tired.
Her cell phone had exactly twelve messages. Rene’s message was one of them.
“Simi, can we meet in the evening? It is kind of urgent. Please let me know”
She felt awful and decided not to reply. She was tired and needed a shower, immediately.
After the shower, she felt a lot better. She was halfway through her lunch when her cell phone vibrated.
“Simi, it’s me, Rene.” He seemed a bit serious.
Yes, what is it, Rene?” Simi asked.
“I...I would like to meet you.” He said.
“Sure. I will be free by 4:30, can you come over?”
“Ok.”
For a strange reason, Simi found herself in a saree, with her hair braided by 4:15 pm. She was not feeling like doing any of those, and she felt a bit uncomfortable while doing that.
Rene had darker circles under his eyes, He was not looking well.
Simi turned on the stove. Quickly she made two cups of tea for both of them.
“What happened, Rene?” She asked politely.
He looked her in the eye. He was searching for something in her face.
Then he uttered softly, touching each and every word.
“Ah kite, golden-winged kite, don’t cry any more this noon
of moist clouds, as you hover around the Dhanshniri river
Your whimper reminds of her eyes dim as pale cane-fruit!
A pretty princess she has drifted afar,
leaving the Earth bereft of beauty;
Why do you call her back?
Who wants to stir up pain by digging heart?
Ah kite, golden-winged kite, stop crying this noon
of tearful clouds, while flying around the Dhanshniri river.”
“What happened, Rene?” Simi asked again.
“My mother got diagnosed with cancer. She is in stage four.” He uttered slowly.
Simi could not utter a single word. She was listening.
Rene was looking at her. “My mother lost her husband when I was five. She is the source of my inspiration through all pain. Why my mother?” He almost burst out.
“Why so much pain in life?”
Simi had no words for him.
“Did you sleep last night?” She asked in a concerned voice.
“I could not sleep for a bit in the last four days.” He said at last, in an awfully tired voice.
Simi and Rene, two sad souls, were sitting silently, looking for words, vulnerably.
Perhaps, they would find the strength to console each other, eventually.
Let them find those words…
Perhaps In the clouded sky...
Perhaps in the drizzling rain.
Acknowledgement : https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/ah-kite/
Comments