Crossing Paths

Broken

Ram was sitting on the floor hugging his knees. He was staring at the photoframe on the side table of his bed. It was an old picture of Ram with his Dad taken sometime around high school.

In the picture, he was trying to match up his father's height standing on toes. Probably telling his dad that just few more days and he'll be as tall as him.

It was just two of them in the picture yet it was everything. Everything and unfortunately only thing Ram genuinely had.

Him looking at his dad with an irresistible smile and his dad smiling back in approval. The happiness in their eyes and the cheerful smiles were enough to brighten up the entire frame.

And now he was on his own. All alone. Once delightful Ram was now downhearted. At moment, he was not crying yet his face was pale, eyelids were swollen, nose damped and cheeks tear-stained.

Perhaps he'd already cried so much so that the tears too gave up.

His room was quiet. The drapes closed in an effort to prevent tiniest light ray to get into the room. The lights inside too were switched off. He sat there, in the devoid room, full of darkness. Just like his life.

****

After sometime there was a knock on the door. He didn't respond. Nandini knocked again. Then calling him, she entered into his room.

"Ram, why is your phone switched off? Adi is calling you since last night", she added.

He still remained unresponsive.

She patted on his back, "Ram!! Are you listening?" This broke his trance. He turned towards her and apologized.

Grasping his condition she enquired if he was fine and then with heavy voice she said, "I understand Ram, it's tough for you. Neither it's easy for me and yet I'm living somehow. For Shubu, Shivi".

She stopped, only to breathe, to be able to speak properly and wipe her tears.

Ram continued to look at her with a fond illusion hoping to hear his name too.

But she didn't.

Moments later, getting hold on herself she continued, "It's been six months. It may seem to be an end of the world but life waits for none. It goes on and so must you. In fact, I thought you were getting better. I knew you couldn't recover losses to save dad's business. But being an elder son you took the charge, strived to make things better and handled everything pretty well in his absence. I'm sure Virendra would be proud to have a son like you!"

Tears welled up in his eyes. His father's memories flooded back. Ram always looked up to his father.

He prioritized his family over anything. He tried his best to fulfill everyone's wish, keep them happy. He provide them with the best he could. And with the growing business, things were getting better. Their days weren't far.

Ram's better days weren't so far. He had already started with his business. Made every effort to provide the best to his loved ones. And soon he would have even married Vedika.

The thought of how beautiful life could have been made him miss his dad even more.

"You even started working on your business. Actually, Adi called for the same. He asked me to remind you about the meeting with some investor", she said tapping on his shoulder again to draw his attention.

"Yes mom. I remember. It's on 7th", he answered.

"Today is 7th, Ram!!!".

Ram was back to his senses. His pain left him clueless of the passing time. Perhaps, time had stopped for him as Vedika too left him, just after losing his dad.