The Broken Mirror

"Abhay--is it---it's you..."
I heard the murmur of a voice and turned myself in the direction. And all went still. For a moment I forgot where I was but quickly I regained myself. Her voice just as i had remembered it was soothing, and she called me out.

I quickly turned my eyes away.
"I am glad to meet you. Hope you're fine..happy...have a good day. " with that I moved on but I was stopped, a hand white as a marble and warm with care, pulled the cuff of my coat.

"Why--we are meeting after decade! We are friends Abhay!! Why so rude!!?? "

"Please. Let's not get into other things. I am happy to see you fit n fine. I truly am ! And I think-- we part with warm greetings without hurting eachother, would be better. We met and it's over. Let us go no further. Stop as it is. Forget me. Forget we ever knew eachother. That did be good for you n for me. "

I said all in one breath, took a step and again I was pulled back and forced to face her.

"Why--why Abhay? Why are you doing this ...? We are friends for 7 years---! 7---do you hear ?"
She was shaking with fury and I felt the strong push of her hold on my collar.

"And one--one fateful day changed everything! 3 years---we meet after 3 long years---and this is how you treat--me ??"

"Then what should I do Piya? Tell me...I don't want to lose you! Doesn't mean that I'm imperfect --human n helpless--that I have to lose you too!! " I spat the words forcefully, my eyes burning with emotion n sadness and I thought at that moment, Piya had caught a glimpse of it too.

"What--? lose...what do you mean...Abhay..please--- tell me - !! What happened? "

"Piya please go. Leave me. You won't understand--go. "

"No. I'm not. First you tell me why you pushed me away! You've to answer me. I always felt even when we were friends that you're holding back. There's a wall around you--that I cant get through--so high a wall that my hands won't reach you! I tried n tried--but I failed ! "

" I beg you tell me why you're doing this ? Please tell me everything. I want to know! "

I looked at her with hardness. And the next moment I shook with such violent emotion that Piya was astounded. She held my hand, I knew she feared I might fall since I was vehemently shaking. In answer I grabbed her hand tight.

******************

Five minutes later I was standing with my head down and my hands holding the flower bouquet which I placed on the ground.

"Abhay what are we doing here? Whoz that--?"

Renounced silence pervaded for a long time before I could speak.

"She was just 8. She died on 11th of July. "

"It's today! Today's -- 11th !" she murmured staring at me, realisation searing into her.

I continued like I couldn't see her, like I was talking to myself, as if there was no one except me.

" She was then 9 years old. Couldn't complete her 10th birthday when we parted. When she died I too was 9 at the time. " I blinked my eye without emotion.
"we were close. We played so hard and so ecstatic was our every day...that you cant imagine children having that these days---that kinda fun..." I smiled. The old days brought a twinkle in my eye and I found my toungue speaking freely; probably for the first time in my life.

"Aunt scold us so much you know----we were little devils she used to say. " I laughed. "There was a school function and we were supposed to dress up--and then dad found her under the wooden staircase with eyes rolling upward--" i had to stop here and take a breath so i could go on without emotion. "he thought she was pulling an act--well she was a pro at pulling acts. My mom called her a great mimicar. We all thought so, and I thought what a marvellous actor my little sister was. She could beat even me ! I was proud and secretly grinning to have her alone sometime later--so i could ask her how she did do it ?"