AN UNEXPECTED RETURN

Birthday

It has been seventeen years without him and today its his birthday.The silencing cry of the new hall shook my nerves, as the melody of his voice ran down my spine and brought down the water of my eyes. I could not play my piano, the keys still possessed the attitude of having his weight of fingers on them. I could feel his fingers on me as I placed mine on the keys. His hypothetical breath ran down my neck as he smiled at me and sang his favorite tunes. Its dreadful to be in this pressure and get broken down each day I think of him.

My eyes fell upon his favorite place of the house facing the pine tree who swayed mournfully and my eyes pushed off the water down my cheeks and once more my heart was done away with his thoughts. His rocking chair still had the cigar box beside it, which lit in the grandeur of the every invading sunlight. It was here every now and then he would lit up a cigar and read his favorite book, Africa by Francesco Petrarch. I pressed hard on the keys and pulled my face up, I was getting destroyed from within, once only once, if he could call me 'Rachel, Can I get some tea please? I am awfully tired.'

I still remember the last day we met - the Crange Fair where he bought me a pair of earring and he said I'll look ravishing in it. It was there that I lost his hand and one of his friends gave me the news that he is up to some important business and that to wait for him and here I am waiting for him being clueless.  The incident brings me to spines on picturing it.

It was getting cold and I realised I need to move towards the fireplace to keep myself well enough to attend the next day's meeting. The fire crisped and crackled as I put the logs to it. The wood was too damp to put the logs to fire and so it took me about an hour to furnish it completely. I made myself a cup of tea and sat beside the fire. My eyes fell into the tree in the garden which for many years remained as bald as the Amazon rain forest after a forest fire or a large stretch of plain land after a tornado. The trees too started sheding leaves after he went.... It was not the actual case but since I was in a Pensive moment I thought it to be a reason.

I was paying my sorrow when a phone call distracted me. 'Is it Mrs. Rachel speaking?'

'Yes but what, I mean may I help you in some way?'

The word Rachel was said in a known way, very known to me indeed.I expected something great to happen but my expectations were soon broken my a hesitatingly tune of words which said

'Ma'am I have your parcel for the pair of heels you ordered. Could you please collect it. I have been ringing bell since a long time.'
I ran down the stairs, collected the parcel and was going to collect the parcel when a voice spoke up

' Seventeen years is a long time. And you didn't even bother to look at me?! You look completely dried up!'

I was left awestruck. I looked up in his eyes and it was him! The same blue eyes, same smile and the bracelet I gave him on his right hand.The parcel fell from my hands and I fell down. I was quiet.I could not speak. My hands, mouth went cold and numb. He spoke again,

'Rachel, could you give me some tea? I am awfully tired' I reclothed myself some way and spoke out
'No, I'll not. Where were you? Seventeen Years?! Are you kidding me!Not a single call! Not a single message and now you are ordering for tea! Do you know even how much depressed I was?! All the more, you...' I was going to tell him more when he pulled me closer and gave me the warmest hug and said
' I am sorry'
I hugged him back and I said, 'Enough, freshen up yourself I'll give you some tea. Have you brought milk?'

'I came after seventeen years... Come on, don't tell me now.'

I smiled at him and was in the kitchen with a hidden, happy excitement which was definitely not to be shown to him. Giving him the tea, I stood at him glaring with hands on my hip as he clarified

'Ok, do not be angry. I had to go as one of my close friends died and within two days I got an offer for a good education options and he promised me that if I complete his course, he would raise my salary and post. Our economic condition at that time was not with us. It was our relation that kept us together. So please don't be angry. We'll celebrate my birthday at Foyot's and stay happy together. Am I forgivable now madam?’

'No, still not. Only if you sit beside me and play my favorite song, I would think about it'

He gave a flashing smile took my hand into the new hall, put flowers beside into my hair from that once bald tree and played the tunes and made the day. It was a dream come true for me......