Gone With The Wind

4. Sad Song

You and I, we're like fireworks and symphonies exploding in the sky
With you, I'm alive
Like all the missing pieces of my heart, they finally collide
So stop time right here in the moonlight
'Cause I don't ever wanna close my eyes
Without you, I feel broke
Like I'm half of a whole
Without you, I've got no hand to hold
Without you, I feel torn
Like a sail in a storm
Without you, I'm just a sad song
I'm just a sad song!

Suman poured tea in the cup, and handed it over to her beloved Nanu, ignoring the complaining faces he made at her.

"But Suman, you didn't add sugar!", he longingly looked at the sugar container, and forwarded a hand that was slapped off by a stern Suman.

"I did. Half a spoon. That's all that doctor has allowed you to have", she stated firmly, glaring at her grandfather who had no option but to drink the seemingly bland tea, like every day.

Did that keep him from trying for more sugar every damn day though? Never!

Suman picked up the tray and was about to leave, when he cleared his throat, and she paused in her steps. She knew what that meant. Nanu wanted to know about Shravan.

How in the world had Nanu figured out that her and Shravan's radio silence was only for the families, Suman had no clue. He hadn't questioned her nevertheless, and neither had he made any attempt to let anyone else know - not even Pushkar who came every weekend to try and talk the old man into reconciling with his cousin, but was denied.

Suman sighed and turned around, and sat in front of him, on her knees.

"You aren't angry on him anymore Nanu, why don't you let him know? He misses you!", She requested, keeping her hands on his knees.

"I would, only if it was my Shravan who was seeking this forgiveness. I don't recognise who he has become now. I don't know him", Raghuvir Tiwari pressed, looking directly into Suman's pleading eyes.

"But Nanu, we all do. We change with time. We learn with time. It's been two years, ofcourse he has changed too", Suman answered back, requesting with her eyes, but her Nanu turned his face, ignoring her. Exhaling loud, Suman stood up to leave.

"Changed is supposed to be for good. It is not supposed to suffocate the very essence of who you are!", the words rang in her ear as she paused at the door yet again, and took a quick glance at her Nanu. She knew he was right, but she didn't know how to explain it anymore.

She wasn't really happy with Shravan's facades either, she didn't like him being so cautiously aware of himself every waking moment too. But she also understood where he was coming from. She could only hope for him to let her hold him, even in the deepest of his despairs, atleast for now and he was letting her in, even if not as much as she was wanting to, but he was and that was enough for her in the moment.

Not that it meant she had stopped trying, either way.

-------

Nirmala sat on the couch, opposite Ram as they both stared into the space. Sometimes they both wondered why could not they come together for Shravan before, when there was a chance to prevent the devastation that followed?

Nirmala had been away from Shravan for ten years, and in the last two years, she had been only trying to know him. Despite being his mother, despite the fact that deep inside Shravan was the same one she left, a lot has changed on the surface. It was ought to. And she needed to catch up with the same. The logic applied to Ram too because Shravan stayed away from him too, there was a lot he didn't know about his son, the very son he claimed to love more than anything in the world.