dawn to dust........

The watch struck 8-15 and my phone display blinked. I never knew what was awaiting me on the other side. I rushed to my friend's house and not to my surprise, found her holding onto her mother and crying. Aunty passed away on her way back from her regular dialyses.

I re-lived the pain of forced separation from one's mother. Whole night I had fixed my eyes on her while she was laying there cold and unmoved. Quite sometimes I felt I saw her moving her eyelids and I stared back almost dozing off. For quite sometimes I felt I saw her making little movements and positioning her limbs to her comfort. I dozed off.

I am sure my friend must have wished for one miracle that could change it all. I wished the same.

One night, and came along a hundred realizations in its fold. What are we all running for? We miss out on so many things in pursuit of the so-called happiness. We might earn in six – seven figures, but yet so alone. We miss out on one chance to say it all to the one whom we don't want to lose.

It has always been too hard to ask for forgiveness. Ain't it too late to say "Mom, I am sorry"?

Well, I felt I should go back to Calcutta and be with with my ailing Dad, but I guess I am too selfish and may be still waiting for the last straw. He is running strong and full of life every time I hear him speak to me and I thank God a million times for this.

Thursday evening at the CSI cemetery. I saw my friend sitting by her mother's mausoleum casting her last glances on her. She removed the dust from her face, moved her fingertips tenderly feeling her for the last time.

Dusk rolled in……and a life returned to the dust!!