Serendipity

By Soumya Menon

After what was likely a decade or more, I saw her again. Standing amidst the aisles of the supermarket. The mere sight of her was like finding money in a pair of long-forgotten jeans.

I looked at her from a distance. There was no sign that she had noticed me. She was busy examining the labels on the jam jars probably for her children or maybe grandchildren. She seems different now. Her nearly greying hair was in a tidy bun while a few wayward strands were playfully adorning her face, disturbing her work in progress. I longed to go near and tuck those loose strands behind her ear.

I observed her from the end of the aisle as she moved from jams to pickles.

Her love for sweets left an indelible impression on those who knew her. Though it was sugar that ran in her like blood, her words were hardly coated by them. I recollect that whenever I bestowed her with a set of cute or sweet monikers, she would get irritated. Every so often, I would end up asking “So what should I call you?” and she would say “You’ll figure out the right one someday”.

I was suddenly jolted out of my reverie as I saw her moving to another aisle. I observed that something about her had changed. Perhaps it was the way she smiled; I longed to behold her heart-warming smile once again. I had these fleeting thoughts of approaching her with my Hello. However, there was something that kept me from taking that step. It was probably the awkwardness of seeing her after so long and my inability to put into words the emotions that I was drowning in.

Back in the days, she used to feel like my warm home for the torrential rain. Today, it appears as if she has been battling storms. The fine lines on her forehead and the lethargy she seems to exhibit tells me as much. Her eyes were lacking their twinkle, but she still looked just as stunning in her pink t-shirt, blue jeans, and grey sweater. As I sat there, watching her move with effortless grace, I couldn't help but notice the fluttering in my chest. It dawned on me that my heart still beats wild at her every look, her every smile, her every breath. She still remains my walking, Euphoria.

Eventually, I ran out of patience and walked towards her. She stood choosing chocolates from a pile in the middle of the aisle. I stood next to her and pretended to be a complete stranger. Her gaze slowly shifted from sideways to straight at me. I turned to look at her. She smiled at me and continued browsing. I wondered: Have I become so unrecognisable to her?

All the anxiety and anticipation wore me down and I said "Hi, I hope you remember me." She looked me in the eye, blinked for a second and replied, "How could I forget you? You were the embodiment of all that I had ever wanted.

I was confused. Is there a reason why she was behaving this strange? “How have you been?” I asked. “I have been… better” she replied. After a few seconds of silence, in an effort to keep the conversation going, I said, "Let me help." So, what are you looking for?” In response, she smiled and said, "Auld Lang Syne. Remember how you would come home with a box of assorted chocolates on our bad days and we would spend the evening taste-testing them and laughing together?”

And I struggled. A war waged within my mind. All perplexed, I stared at her. I watched her face become distressed. She then slowly started humming and singing, "You’re just too good to be true, can’t take my eyes off you..." The song brought me a deep sense of unexplainable peace. She took my arm into hers and said "Okay honey, let's go home."

I attempted to recollect the past and unravel the mystery of what transpired between us as we walked out of the door of the supermarket. Yet again, my eyes beheld a sight that took me by surprise. Instead of the bustling streets and crowded sidewalks that I had anticipated, I found myself standing in the quiet and solemn lobby of what appeared to be a care facility.

A wave of confusion washed over me as I tried to make sense of my surroundings. As we walked, she spoke to me. She told me that I was probably in love with her for the umpteenth time. We walked through the lobby right to its end and now stood before a door with my name etched onto a nameplate. ‘Mr. Harvey’ it read. I entered an elegantly decorated room that seemed to glow with a warm and inviting light. My confused mind struggled to comprehend what was going on. Until finally, I saw it. Us - frozen in time. Photographs of our younger selves smiling and laughing, embarking on adventures and making memories. Pictures of our kids & our grandkids. Each photograph seemed to tell a story. A celebration of the lifetime we had spent together.

Scarlett said "I can see how confusing this must be for you, my love and you must be struggling with your memory. I want you to know we're here at a facility that provides care and support for those diagnosed with Alzheimer's.” She wrapped her arms around me in a warm embrace, and whispered “Even though it may feel like fresh news every time, know that I'm always here to remind you and we’ll get through this together.”

She guided me to a chair next to the table, gently steadying me as I sat down, my mind still whirling with questions. My eyes fell upon an open journal resting on the table, and without a second thought, I reached for the pen lying next to it. As the ink flowed onto the paper, I made a note of everything that happened today. Capturing every detail, every emotion, every fleeting thought that had flitted through my mind in order to ensure I wouldn't forget again. And as I wrote, a wave of calm washed over me, a sense of peace settling over my soul, telling myself that these words would remain. Upon closing the journal at the end of my writing, I noticed the label on the journal that read "Serendipity."

I flipped through this journal and saw there were multiple entries in it. There were several that began with "I saw her again..." A smile crept across my face as I relived the joy of each encounter, captured so vividly in the pages of the journal.

"And, each is our sheer serendipity," she smiles, embracing me from behind. “I will always cherish the memories we made together. But let's create some new ones for today, shall we?” She held out her hand. “Off course” I said, taking her hand. She looked deep into my eyes and said “That's it, just hold my hand. We'll take it one day at a time.” I got up, gave her a smile, held her hand and squeezed it tight.

I looked deep into his Scarlett’s eyes and whispered “I love you. You make every day better just by being in it." She smiled back at me and gave my hand a gentle squeeze in return.

As I lead her into a dance, I finally asked “So what should I call you?” she looked up at me with a glint in her eye and replied “Call me Yours.”

****** They swayed as ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You…’ Played in the background******

By Soumya Menon