Marriage In Echo

Epilogue

Epilogue

After 6 years of Tiya's death

Karan sat in front of a serene lake, the calm water mirroring the thoughts swirling in his mind. The passing years had not dulled the pain of her loss, but they had taught him invaluable lessons about life and love.

As he stared at the tranquil water, Karan reflected on the profound impact Tiya's death had had on him. It had taught him the importance of cherishing and valuing people while they were still with you, for once they were gone, all that remained were regrets and memories.

The realisation hit him like a wave crashing against the shore, filling him with a sense of urgency to make the most of every moment, to tell the people he loved how much they meant to him before it was too late. Tiya's absence loomed large in his heart, a constant reminder of the fragility of life and the preciousness of every fleeting moment.

He sat there lost in his thoughts, the sound of innocent laughter suddenly filled the air, pulling him back to the present moment. "Timmy... Tim... Timm, come here," he heard a childlike voice calling out.

Turning his head, he saw Timmy, the fur animal he and Tiya had once shared, now grown and bounding around playfully. A little girl ran behind him, her laughter ringing out like music in the serene surroundings.

"Tiyara... beta, don't go too near the lake," Karan called out, his voice filled with gentle concern as he watched his daughter's antics.

"Papa, Timmy won't listen to me," the little girl protested as she pouted and settled beside him, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Karan couldn't help but smile at the sight of his daughter, her innocence and joy lighting up the world around her. With a tender gesture, he reached out and wiped the sweat from her face with his handkerchief.

As they drove back home, the car filled with the joyful sounds of Timmy and Tiyara's laughter, their excitement palpable in the air. Karan couldn't help but smile as he glanced in the rearview mirror, watching his children bouncing and giggling in their seats.

"Daadi! We had so much fun," little Tiyara exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with delight as she ran to Rekha and climbed onto her lap.

Rekha wrapped her arms around Tiyara, her heart overflowing with love for her granddaughter. "I'm so glad to hear that, beta," she said warmly, planting a kiss on Tiyara's forehead.

As Karan entered his room, he heard a familiar voice greet him. "Aa gye aap?" (You're back?) Tiya's voice echoed in his mind, causing a pang of longing in his heart.

"Hmm," he replied softly, acknowledging her presence even though she was no longer there. "Go take a shower then, I will arrange the table," he heard her say, her words a bittersweet reminder of their routine.

"Wait for me till I am done with the shower," Karan said quickly. He hurriedly took a shower, wrapping a towel around his waist as he emerged from the bathroom, expecting to find Tiya waiting for him.

But the room was empty, devoid of her presence. Karan's smile faltered as he sat on the bed, his gaze drawn to the picture of Tiya on the bedside table, her bright smile mocking the emptiness that now filled the room.

"Tum phir se chali gayi, Tiya. Aaj bhi nahi ruki mere liye?" (You left again, Tiya. You still didn't wait for me?) he murmured, his voice thick with emotion as he stared at her photograph, his heart heavy with longing and regret. A lone tear escaped his eye, tracing a path down his cheek as he silently mourned the loss of his beloved wife.

"Papa! Paapaaa!" he heard his daughter's voice calling out, breaking him out of his reverie. "Lunch is ready! Daadi bula rahe hain," she announced cheerfully, oblivious to the storm of emotions raging within him.

"I will be downstairs in a minute, sweetheart," Karan replied, his voice strained as he struggled to compose himself. His daughter nodded and left the room, leaving Karan alone once again with his memories of Tiya, his heart heavy with the weight of her absence.

Karan walked into the closet, he felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him. Everything was still the same – the expired cosmetic products, the neatly arranged shoes, the purses hanging in their designated spots – just as Tiya had left them. He reached out and gently touched his late wife's mangalsutra, a symbol of the life they had shared together.

"You left me too soon, Tiya," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "I have no hope in life except our little Tiyara.”

Tiyara, his five-year-old daughter, was a ray of light in his darkest days. Biologically his sister's child, she had become his reason to live after Meera had handed her over to him following the birth of twins three months after Tiya's death. Grateful to his sister for giving him this precious gift, Karan had adopted Tiyara and named her in memory of his beloved wife, Tiya.

With his daughter by his side and Tiya's memory in his heart, Karan strived to be the best father he could be. He had also bought the home Tiya stayed in during her last days in Dehradun, a place filled with bittersweet memories that he now called his own.

Karan stood in the closet surrounded by memories of the past, Karan realized that life was not always kind enough to give second chances.

“Love leaves a memory no one can steal, but sometimes, life isn't kind enough to give you a second chance. Yet, in the echoes of our memories, we find the strength to embrace the present and cherish the love that remains.”

                            The End

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Hare Krishna