It was 6 in the morning. Entire night had passed but there was no trace of sleep in his eyes. It was her birthday. His wife was still asleep next to him. He wanted to talk to her but he didn’t want to disturb her sound sleep. Slowly and steadily getting out of his bed he walked towards the bathroom. A cold shower early in the morning might help to clear his head of haunting thoughts, he thought. He stepped out of the bathroom well shaved, hair-styled just the way she liked it and smelling of her favourite shower gel under the white shirt that she had gifted him, only to find his wife awake. “Do you have work early today?” She asked with surprise. They have been married for 7 months now and he has never woken up this early. He was not a morning person but today was special. He wanted to tell her about his plans for this morning but the words just didn’t come out of his mouth. Unable to understand her husband’s silence, she inquired, “Will you spare time for the breakfast? I will just take 15 minutes.” “Yes.” is all he could utter from his mouth. His eyes were doing all the talking but she was busy being the perfect wife and forgot that she was his friend and confidant too. He had so much to say but he knew it would hurt her to know about it. Not everyone’s birthday is meant to be celebrated. But he had to do it. For her. It was he who had fallen in love with her and since the time he got married he has only kept those feelings to himself.
It was 8:30 by the time he finished the breakfast and
left for her place. On his way he
took a halt at a florist; the one she always bought flowers from. It was special after all. He couldn’t have visited her without her favourite lavenders and tulips. He drove again for an hour. She
lived far, really far. Throughout the way he could only think about those 4
years that they had spent together loving and fighting each other. He reached
the outskirts of the city into the meadows and stopped the car a little away from
her place. He took the flowers, set his hair right and wiped the tear rolling
down his cheek and tried hard to smile. He could already sense her around, hear
her innocent laughter ringing in his ears and sniff her favourite perfume in the cool breeze that hugged his body.
He approached her with trembling hands and welled-up eyes. “Happy Birthday love!
Hope you remember me.” he said as he placed the flowers. “We will meet soon,
until then you take care.” He said with quivering lips and kissed her grave.
