Jab we met!
by Rajbir Deswal
We met almost every day. On our evening stroll. I didn’t know her. Nor did she know me. Her walking laps were smaller. Just close to her house. She preferred going not too far.
I saw her reverting back to her house after completing a lap or two. Then again she was there. Alone, or with someone from the neighbourhood. I could also once in a while listen to something like crooning of a song, when she passed by.
Her children used to catch up with her sometimes. She seemed to be someone who was a favourite in the neighbouring houses. But we had no interaction amongst ourselves. Not even formally greeting each other.
Then one day I found there were many vehicles parked near her house. There were no signs of any kind of a celebration or revelling. The atmosphere looked to be very gloomy.
I passed by her house. Tried to figure out if something had gone wrong. I couldn’t know. The following day when I again went on the same stroll route with my wife, she told me that the owner of the house had died.
“O’ God that is why I don’t see her out of the house anymore!” I murmured to myself.
After some days I could spot her standing near the gate of her house and talking to another woman of the neighbourhood. Suddenly, I got worried as to how would I gather courage to pass by her, without saying a few words of condolence.
And what would I say. As I said, we never talked to each other. My steps dithered and failed their direction. I couldn’t lift my eyes to catch hers. How would I do that? What if our eyes met? What would be my reaction? I was still walking towards her.
And she bowed her head and wished me with folded hands. Things suddenly became very easy for me. I told her I was sorry to have heard the sad news. “But what happened all of a sudden?” I asked her.
“He was straight-bodied like you. His heart failed.” She was able to barely speak. Her voice died in a choke. Tears rolled down her eyes and she went inside her house. I also went my way. With a heavy heart.
Now we meet oftener. Now we greet each other with folded hands. We have no hesitation at all. She seems to have come to terms with her tragedy. Time is a great healer. Also that we unite in grief and stand by each other, than in happier times! Life goes on. But walk we must.To meet one another at some point of time lest we fight shy of letting our eyes meet!
Here is The Tribune version:
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090704/edit.htm#5
