https://mouthshut.com/diary/iaifpqmlr/The-Evening-Star9
Snigdha skipped the school for a few days. Teachers understood the grief. She spent her time in the dream room, but would not leave the evening session in the mud bed. The tears would roll endlessly. Every evening till night she would make every cloud the different poses of Jackie, some would look like his nose, some when he would run around her. The night would bring the stars and she would just think which one of them is Jackie. She would call aloud Jackie and would see a star suddenly shining brighter then the rest.
“She needs help Mona. I am really worried. This is getting very difficult for me to handle”
“Meghna, summer vacations have started, take her somewhere. It is going to help you all. Go out for a month or so. Time is a big healer”
She nodded silently.
They packed and went to meet her sister, Shobhna, living in Mumbai.
Their apartment was just next to beach. Shobhna’s kids were slightly older than hers. They were very fond of Snigdha and Raghav, and involved them a lot with their activities. They spent a lot of time on the beach, outings, and Snigdha was a happy girl.
Meghna was watching them playing on the beach that day. The smiling faces made her happy. At a distance she saw a lady with a big dog, just like Jackie, who was struggling hard to keep up with the dog. He is just like Jackie, she thought. Ya, Jackie. Somewhere she was so worried about Snigdha for all these days that she almost forgot to grieve for Jackie. Her Jackie, her foster son, she raised him like her own baby. But she didn’t get time to grieve. It settled deep in her heart and she knew it would now go with her forever. Some bonds are created in such a way, that they can never be broken.
They never realized a month was over. Parting with them was not easy but then life goes on, and there is always a next time.
The journey was very quite. Parting away and now going back in there.
Meghna pressed the door bell and maid came running with a big welcome smile on her face. The luggage was unloaded and they all went in. everyone was tired from the journey. They all freshened up and sat for their lunch. Meghna saw Snigdha’s eyes, which were searching for something. May be Jackie would come from the room, may be from that door. The stairs, she wanted to hear those paws, that woof, the bell which would tell now Jackie whisked himself that wet feeling on her skin, the soft touch of fur.
She didn’t eat much, and went for her afternoon nap. She was exhausted. In fact they all slept.
Meghna felt a something touching her skin. She thought she was dreaming but then she felt something and she opened her eyes. Snigdha was standing there. She was touching her arm. “Snigdha, what happened?”
“Mom I want to go up”
“Ok, go Babu”
And Snigdha looked down at the floor.
Meghna got up. “Come I will take you”
She carefully managed to slide from Raghav’s side and they both went up. As she unlocked the door of the terrace, the crimson sky welcomed them. She looked at the door of her dream room, where the caricature of dog was half hanging. She pressed it hard and it was back in its place.
They both went ahead. They looked at the mud bed and stood there for a moment. A small plant was gleaming there, full of white flowers, swayed with the gentle breeze.
“Mom, I asked Jackie, not to leave me, and see he is here, waiting for me…”
