The last Goodbye

She gave a quick glance at her watch.

"It's really late", she mumbled. "Good thing pravesh will not be home anytime soon."

Aanya, happily married to Pravesh was head of many projects in a multinational companies. More often than not she had to stay back late. Pravesh headed marketing department in another multinational and that kept him on road atleast once a month for few days. They have been married for four years now but she had been unable to conceive. But Pravesh, unlike many husbands never let it lay on her. their love, if anything, have only increased in these years. He was due coming home tonight after a five day trip. She wanted to be home before he comes, and thanks to God she will. Pravesh called her up to tell her he will be a bit late.

She mumbled something again and filed everything. She put away everything, collected her belongings and started walking to the lift.

Tak tak tak, her stilettos made noises that sounded horrifying in the deadly silent and deserted corridor. She made a mental note of getting a new pair. As soon as she moved her fingers to push open the button, the power went out. She panicked.

"Watchman, watchman." she screamed at the top of her voice. No replies came, only the echo of her own voice. She was petrified. She felt her heart throbbing hard, her breath stuck in her throat and her limbs swelling. Suddenly a flame flickered near her, a flame from lighter. She thought it must be the watchman. She turned her neck to talk to him.

"Pravesh ", she exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes love, I know dark scares you. So, I came to rescue you."

"You are always my knight in shining armor, aren't you?" She smiled.

"Come let's sit for a while." He pulled her to sit on the stares.

She took out her mobile and turned the torch on.

"But you were supposed to come late. How come you are here? How did you know I was here? You have been playing games with me haan?"

"Breath lady, breath. No games here alright. Nothing can keep me away from you. Just always remember that."

"Pravesh let's go home na. Let's freshen up and we can talk there."

"Can't love. I don't have that much time."

"What do you mean by don't have that much time? you just came. Is it another assignment?"

After a brief pause he said, "Sort of yes, a really long one."

"That's not fair."

"I know, but there is so much that is not fair."

"You behaving strangely. Is everything okay?"

"Aanya, there is so much I want to say to you."

"Am all ears baby."

"You know I love you right, with all my heart and soul."

She looked at him strangely, "Yes".

"And you know I will always be there for you, if not in body, in mind and soul and heart."

She got a bad feeling about this, "Pravesh, what's going on?"

"Nothing, just being away from you for so long gets me all worked up."

She smiled, slipped closer, puts her head on his shoulder, "I know, it's the same for me. When will you be back."

"I don't know."

She sighed.

"Aanya, If I ever leave you, I want you to start afresh, I want you to take your life from a whole new beginning."

"Pravesh, don't talk like that. You are giving me creeps. I know you will never leave me."

He hugged her tight. They sat there for another hour talking about them both, walking down the memory lane that has been full of their ever growing love. They laughed, they cried, they made promises.

"Aanya, it's about time. I have to leave now."

"Can't you stay for a day and then leave?"

"I wish I could stay forever love, but I can't. It's not in my hand."

He held her close and kissed her tenderly. As soon as he walked down the stairs, the power came. Blinded by the sudden light, it took her few minutes to adjust her eyes. When she glanced back at stairs, Pravesh was long gone. A sense of emptiness filled her. She pressed the button to call for lift. The moment she got off the life, her phone rang.

"Hello"

"Aanya seth?"

"Speaking"

"Ma'am I am highway police patrolling officer. There had been a car accident. The papers said it belongs to some mr. Pravesh seth."

"What? That's my husband's car."

"Yes ma'am, there is a dead body inside. the identity cards says his name is Pravesh seth."

"What rubbish? He was with me till a while ago."

"Ma'am we have been trying to call you since an hour. But your number was continuously unreacheable."

"Yes, I was still in my office. It has some network issues."

"Ma'am we are at the city hospital, could you just come in for identification."

"Yes, but I am sure that man is not my husband. I will just drop by to confirm."

"Okay, thanyou mrs. seth"

Her head spun. How could that be. Pravesh was with her few moments ago. There had to be a terrible mistake. She put her foot on accelerator and reached hospital. She wanted to be over with it soon. There were two officers at the reception. They took her to morgue for identification. She fainted as soon as they took off the cloth from his face. It was Pravesh. Her mind went blank. Suddenly everything he said made sense to her. he had come to her to say his final goodbye.


This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.