“She Came Back”

By Ankeet Shome

She loved setting out on long drives. She was fond of the breeze when it would gush through, swirling her hair, the golden sunshine streaking through, and startling her dark mood. But what she was charmed by were the clouds. Clouds of distinct shapes. Clouds which were all unique. She would often say that the shape of clouds on a particular day would convey how her day was going to be. At times she would see a pleasant figure, at times some distorted figure. Sometimes she would just look at the clouds & recall the stories her deceased father used to tell her. But today was different.

She was trying hard… Very hard… To open her eyes. But in vain. She wanted to see the clouds but it seemed impossible if her physical state was anything to go by. Nevertheless, her mind was racing…

“Mom, I am leaving. Good bye.”

“But Rashid, I can drive this. Please let me.”

Then there was a loud noise of something exploding. The noise was unbearable. And then there was silence. Pin drop silence. There was darkness all around.

She was still trying to open her eyes but something barred her from doing that. It seemed as if a large chunk of her life has been removed. The heart monitor attached to her gave no positive signals. The doctors had no clue when she would rise from coma. Her mom was miserable and sad beyond consolation & so was Rashid. But nobody noticed how she kept on striving to live again.

~ 5 days earlier ~

“Mom, we have decided to make a visit to Ooty for the weekend.” Shruti said in a pleading tone.

“Friends! Who all are going?” her mom asked with suspicion.

“Meena, Rinki, Medha, Neeta and some other girls of our batch.” Shruti explained, her fingers crossed. “Neeta’s brother will be taking us there and we will be back by Sunday night.”

This was not the first time Shruti lied to her mother to meet Rashid. She had already decided, come what may and she would do anything to meet Rashid. But this was different. Going to Ooty with Rashid for the full weekend! She had no other option but to lie. In the next fifteen minutes she had totally convinced her mother for the trip & informed all her friends to keep the secret.

Friday evening at 8 PM she finally managed to cross the heavy Bangalore traffic. She reached the Café Rashid had asked her to meet. Rashid was already waiting for her in his black convertible car. She hopped in, and they were off, on their way to Ooty. Shruti felt guilty for lying to her mother but knew the fact that had her mother known the truth, she would never have got the chance to spend the weekend with the love of her life. Rashid consoled her & promised her that he would meet her mom and tell her everything once they came back.

On the way, Rashid demounted the roof of the convertible & Shruti could feel the breeze now. But there were no clouds. She felt a little vague which she couldn't describe. She felt uneasy but kept her feelings to herself as she didn’t want to spoil the happy moment.

Since it was late in the night & they had already crossed Bangalore, Shruti requested Rashid to let her drive. Rashid kept on rejecting her request but finally gave in.

“First change the gear, then slowly release the clutch & hit the accelerator very slowly. Do it carefully.” Rashid said.

“Chill sweetheart. I can do this” winked Shruti jokingly.

She started off fine. She released the clutch of the car very slowly and was accelerating in a very slow speed. After a while, a pothole and a sharp left turn confused her and suddenly she hit the accelerator hard. The narrow road, the sharp turn and the acceleration made the car zip across the highway & they ran into a tree. Rashid managed out of the car while Shruti got unconscious. He pulled her out of the car when suddenly there was an explosion. Rashid had pulled Shruti out just in time.

~ Present Day ~

Shruti felt as if she was awake but could not move. She felt weak. She was fighting hard to open her eyes. But just couldn’t.

Suddenly she heard her Father’s voice in her semiconscious mind, urging her to move, exhorting her to open her eyes.

“Come on Shruti. You can’t leave your Mom alone. You are our strength.”

“Open your eyes, beta.”

Shruti tried to open her eyes, very slowly. She could see the clouds now. In the shape of the clouds she saw her father. She could see her father yearning her to get up. She felt as if she had been asleep for a long time. Her mom needed her. Rashid needed her.

The heart monitor suddenly started beeping. Slowly, she moved her fingers. She could feel her mother holding her hand. She slowly moved her lips, craving to say something but her voice was chocked. She could see blurry images of her mother standing, Rashid standing behind, tears rolling down his cheeks, as he stood there helplessly, injured and bandaged. And then slowly her eyes widened. Her mother & Rashid were standing near her. Their hope against all odds that she would wake up paid off.

Her mother cried in joy, “Doc… Doct… Doctor! Look she has opened her eyes.”

By Ankeet Shome