She shifted restlessly in her seat. Her eyes burned with stinging pain and her muscles ached as if it was tied up in knots. The roaring winds in her heart adamantly refused to stay calm. She darted a glance outside through the rusty window rails. The rails had deep blue paints in tiny patches slowly withering away as if it had readily accepted defeat against the harsh realities of time and weather. It was raining helter-skelter. But even the roaring rains could not deafen the roaring thoughts that muddled her soul. She clutched her heart and whispered, “Hush! You have had enough. It’s time to calm down!”
But, seems the heart was in no mood to listen. She sighed in exasperation of her own inability to control her thoughts. She shut her eyes tight, trying to calm herself, trying to divert her thoughts. But, no! Tears welled up deep inside, making her heart ache. Slowly it began coursing down her cheeks, drenching her hair strands, making her whimper and stammer. The downpour outside the windows seemed to stop and stare at their opponent winning over effortlessly without even making the slightest noise. The pregnant silence seemed to ring warning bells of an upcoming storm.
She shook herself and stared at her reflection on the wardrobe mirror. Where was that bountiful smile that radiated happiness all over? All she could see were her tear-stained cheeks and dishevelled hair. Why was it so difficult to un-love? When you literally give away the heart to someone and realize in absolute agony that the soul is getting tortured and abused, what do you do? Take the heart back with pride? Ask them to stop? Say enough is enough? Yes! It is so easy to advise and so hard to follow! She scorned at her reflection and shut her eyes tight. Her head was throbbing, and she still had many unanswered questions. Questions which did not have an answer. Questions which if she dared to ask, will be met by verbal abused and ridicule. Questions which she had to dig a hole deep inside her heart and hide from the prying eyes
The rain had stopped by now. The sun rays peeped through the misty white drapes. The glittering sun rays seemed to soothe her throbbing head. Somewhere not too far, a tiny sparrow chirped nonstop and fluttered its tiny wings. The autumn leaves stood unfazed and undeterred. It certainly knew it had to fall off and make way for the green cotyledons. But it never muttered quibbles under its breath, never let a teardrop slide through. She gazed in at the autumn leaves with a perplexed look written all over her face. Maybe it is time to be the autumn leaf. Perhaps it is time to move on and forget. It’s not going to be easy. It’s a path of stones and thorns. But, she will make it, and if she falls, she will fall with dignity like the autumn leaves, without a teardrop, without a plaint. And she will sprout to life again as the pullulating verdant turf ready to brave the storm!
