# 1. Ashes.....

I shivered. I shook like a leaf.

No, it was not the cold wind of the December morning, that sent the chill down my spine.

I stared at the newspaper in disbelief.

No, it couldn’t be.

Not so soon.

Not when we were alive.

This was not the time for it.

My heart beat faster and faster, as my eyes fought against the words on the paper, tears filling them with a rapidity I’d not known in the recent years.

Beads of sweat started forming on my forehead, and slowly rolled down along my temple.

“ What’s the matter, Vinod ? You look worried ! What’s it? Is it the Sensex again ? “, Kamini was near me with  my cup of the morning tea.

I handed her the newspaper with trembling hands, and pointed at the lower right hand corner of the page.

Kamini gave an audible gasp as she read the news, while I sat with my head cupped in my hands, trying to take it in.

The letters in black, and the photograph,  swam before my eyes.

Obituary.

Then, her photograph. In black and white.

Her smile. As enigmatic as ever.

Beneath that, the words.

Mrs. Mahita Mohan Varma ( 45 ).

Wife of (Late) Captain Mohanchandra Varma.

21-06-1969 --- 21-12-2013.

Deeply mourned by friends and relatives.

21^st December, 2013. That is , three days back.

When I looked up, Kamini was looking at me, tears forming streams on her cheeks.

“Shouldn’t we…..shouldn’t we go, Vinod ? She would’ve been happy ……she would’ve  wanted it, Vinod,” she spoke in a hoarse whisper, her sobs getting stifled within her heaving chest.

“ What for, Kamini ? The final rites might be over by now.  She’s gone ! Oh my God ! I can’t believe that she’s become a memory,” I looked at Kamini, trying my best to hold back my tears.

“ We all die, Vinod. We’re journeying to death. We’ll all be reduced to mere ash one day,” she snapped. She was like that. Sorrow made her angry. I had to learn that trait of hers , the hard way.

“ We must go, Vinod. At least to bring back her ashes to the Ganga,” she said, sitting on the chair next to me, and tenderly touching my shoulders.

Mahita.

Gone.

Forever.

I couldn’t take it ; no, rather  I didn’t want to take it. I closed my eyes and opened them , as if willing myself to wake up at the other end of this bad, bad, dream.

I looked at Kamini ; her eyes were fixed on mine in an earnest plea.

She looked away suddenly.

That instant, I knew both of us had the same thoughts.

Memories of her.

To be contd....
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Linking this to A toZ 2014 and the Ultimate Blogging Challenge.