Teri Meri Kahaniyan

I Lost Everything

"I LOST EVERYTHING"

It was bitterly cold, darkness was falling while She walked on the streets of Mumbai..shivering, cold and hopelessly.

Mumbai is said to be the city of dreams. They say it gives you whatever you want, but never told that it can also snatch whatever you have.

It's been 2 months she has lost everything--Her Husband. He was her everything. But it was one year ago that He started loosing everything.--Literally everything.

He lost his son..As in They lost their son to Covid-19. Imagine losing your 11 year old son who was the only reason for you and your wife to live together when the love between you two seemed to have died.

He didn't stop mourning for 2 months resulting him to loose his job. He sank in depression, but it was now that his wife held his hand tight and promised never to leave it.

He was sitting down on the floor near the bed, hugging his legs helplessly. He didnt want to see anyone. He thought Mallika would blame him for the death coz he was the one who took their son out. He was broken. His eyes were numb. She entered the room with 2 cups of tea. She kept them on a table in the room and sat beside him.

Sumedh:
"Kyun aai ho yaha? Tanna marne? Marlo...jinte taane marne hai marlo. Main mere bete ke mauth ka jimmedaar hu..jo bolna hai bolo. Tumhare saare accusations sunne keliye taiyaar hu main. Ab toh humare saath rehne ki wajah bhi nahi rahi. Tum jaa sakti ho chodke mujhe. Koi kuch nahi kahega tumhe."

He said not evening looking at her.
She caressed his hair...he looked up but at her. It was after a very very long time she had touched his hair. It gave him a feeling of home. A tear slipped from his eye. She made him look at her.   

Mallika:
"Tumhari koi galti nahi hai. Samjhe tum? Tumne kuch galat nahi kiya. Main yaha tumhe taane de nahi aai Sumedh. Aur humare saath rehne ki wajah humara pyaar hai...koi aur nahi. Main tumhe chodke kahi nahi jaa rahi."

Sumedh:
Mallika! Pls don't go! Pls!

He broke down.

Mallika:
Nahi jaaungi. Sumedh...I haven't said this in I guess past 3 years...But Sumedh I love you...I love you a lot! I am sorry for everything. I love you.

Sumedh:
I love you too Mallika! I am sorry too! Pls give me a hug...I need it a lot!.

They hugged each other broke down in each other's arms.

It seemed that their love wasn't dead, it was the reason for them to live. Their love was just buried under 1000 responsibilities.

He wasn't out of depression. She tried hard to get him out..so did he but loss if their son had totally taken over him. They were now bankrupt. He had so many loans to pay off.
He pretended to smile for her, she tried keeping even though she wasn't also not over the death of their son.

2 months ago from today. They had their last conversation.

They were sitting on coffee table drinking coffe.

Mallika:
"Kya baat hai? Aaj mere saath coffee..aaj chai nahi peeni?"

Sumedh:
Socha phir mauka mile na mile..(she became tensed hearing this)
Mallika, thank you for everything. For these 13 yrs, each moment of your togetherness, I cherished in my heart. You sacrificed your dreams, ambitions, your family for me....thank you. I am sorry for whatever I had said, done in my past. I know Mallika, u love me, u need me. But I can't take this anymore. This death...These loans...this society...this city...these problems...are eating me from inside. I am sorry...
Mallika:
Sorry for what?

Sumedh smiled painfully as he holded her hand and waved his hand in bye--Goodbye to her. That's when she saw his wrist bleeding. Yes, he had cut his wrist. He fell down from the chair.

Mallika:
Sumedh!!!!!!!!!

She yelled and placed his head on her lap. She was in utter shock. He was still smiling.

Mallika:
No..nono.! No Sumedh! Dont do this to me Sumedh no! Kuch nahi hoga tumhe.. I swear!!
Sumedh:
We don't have money for hospital also Mallika...let me go..pls...it hurts a lot!
Mallika:
Nahi yaar!! Pls na...Sumedh..pls Matt karo aisa...i need you...I am soo alone without you..pls dont!

They shed last tears together. He place his hand on her cheek.

Sumedh:
I am sorry. I love you....be happy.
Mallika:
I love u too...pls don't go.

He closed his eyes never to open again. She cried hugging him for hours. She still carries his ashes with her in a locket.

Present day.
She lost her everything. She was roaming out as she didnt want to be home...his memories haunted her every moment. It was 11.45 pm when she sat under a tree hopeless. Hearing all the noise coming from houses. Everyone was celebrating. As it was the last day of the old year  It was New Year's Eve. It felt like they were celebrating the death of her happiness. Her eyes were numb, lips were torn, hair were messed, yet she looked painfully beautiful.

She removed matchbox and cigarette out and light the matchstick to light the cigarette.

The blame burnt big showing her a big screen in front of her. She was shocked. How could a burning a matchstick start a supernatural tv?

What she saw in the vision brought tears to her eyes. It was the vision of a girl and boy getting married. They were smiling soo much. They were so happy. This brought smile to her face as the boy was Sumedh and girl was Mallika.
Suddenly the vision went off as the flame had went off.

She burnt one more in curiosity. Now the vision was completely different. In it a boy was crying uncontrollably on death of his son. His wife who was numb suddenly fell unconscious just beside him. The boy patted the girl's cheeks.
The vision again went off! She sat there with tears falling continuously.

She with her shivering hands stuck another matchstick. Now what she saw made her cry out loud uncontrollably. She saw a boy laying on a girl's lap. He was dying and the girl was requesting him to stay. But he didn't.

Mallika,"Sumedh!! No! No! Don't go this time! I would let you go this. I know i would go away when this flame goes away! But pls stay! Pls Sumedh! I have no one."
She stuck many matchsticks continuously to keep the vision alive but it wont help.
The vision started fading.

"Nahi! Pls nahi! Matt jao pls! I love you Sumedh, plsss matt karoo aisa! Take me with you if u cant stay!" She said crying out loud.

Suddenly the vision went off but the boy, Sumedh. Came out of it. He didn't look complete. His shoulder, hair, hands and legs seems to be particle moving in hair...they weren't complete. Sumedh cupped Mallika's face.

"Come" He said.

He gave her his hand and she holded it as she painfully smiled. But hwr smile was full of satisfaction. She just looked at him without breaking the eye contact, He slowing took her up the stairs, above the sea, passing the marine drive under them.
He took out a star from the sky and made it small and gave it to her. Her smile gave him the happiness he hadnt got in a while.

Soon there was light everywhere...brighter that the broad daylight. Morpankh rain started falling of them.
Sumedh picked up Mallika in his arms and hugged her tight. She slept in his arms....A sleep she had never got.

Next day.
The police found a girl. She was smiling with closed eyes--Dead smile. She was dead. She dead of cold they said but none knew what beautiful visions she had seen, what beautiful journey she had while going back to god with her Beloved Husband.

Sumedh and Mallika resided in heaven with their son. Now there were no problems. It was just them dancing in happiness.

-Piyusha
.
Radhe Radhe.