The Walk Away

I woke to a new sun that morning. Those rays shone over her silky messy hair, which gave a divine glow to her sleeping face. I had to wake her up then, though I didn’t want to tamper her serene sleep. Else she would miss the journey back. I tried waking her up, but all she did was to hold my hand and place her soft chubby cheeks on my palm all with her eyes shut. Still she was hesitant to open those deep black eyes. Kissing on her half closed eyes, we cuddled to one little thread loop. The bed was filled with her body scent.

She brushed with my tooth brush and got ready with a little heavier eyes and heart. We drank the black tea in my black starry cup and had a bite of the toast in a hurry. The hug before leaving to bus station said it all, so tight it was. Unlike all other parting scenes this one was the hardest. Each moment I walked beside her, carrying her bag so that I could hold her hand, was so special. All I could manage was to smile without looking into her eyes.

We were walking to a distance that was so long, each step taking time eternity. I wanted her not to cry just because of the wet eyes I had. Eventually we reached the terminal with lots of words spoken but being unheard and her eyes made it even worse.

I stood just below the window side of her seat, looking straight into her drowsy yet shiny eyes, unable to read those mystic lines. Was she happy and sad, excited and dejected? Slowly the bus started moving, taking those glances away. The driver looked and smiled. He nodded and gave an expression which said it all. His nod assured ‘Son, She will be safe in the journey and you need not worry so much. I will take her home. Don’t be sad I can bring her back to you as well’. I smiled to that gentleman with grey hair all over him and a small droplet rolled down by the left cheek and disappeared in the beard face.

Walking down the lanes towards the exit, I was surprised and overjoyed to see that the bus has not left the gates. My heart pounded so fast like the prayer bells. The very thought of seeing her eyes again aroused a quest. I ran with my trembling breaths towards the gate. The bus started moving slowly taking those last rays from the day. I was left behind in the crowd yet again. I stood there on the pavement gasping for breath, a sharp chill started to run through my veins turning me immobile for few moments.

I managed to walk away with great difficulty with the blurry vision of watery eyes. Walking past the crowd, I felt l was walking against the flow, trying to get past them as hard as I could, walking as slow as I could with lots of fond memories of her in my head. I came home and wore the t-shirt she left behind. I couldn’t sleep though I wanted to sleep badly.

Sleep is an escape, where we can cut ourselves out from the harsh reality and to breathe life into the fantasy world we have created to live in.