Short Story : “Nothing lasts forever”

If I was sure about one thing in life, it was to teach history at the high school. Certainly, I should have expected better. With teaching came the herculean task of grading the papers. My heart was sinking as I eyed the pile of ungraded answer papers and assignments on my desk.

Pushing the spectacles up my nose, I picked up an answer sheet to value it. In sync with my eyes taking in what the student had scribed, my hands were making rapid red marks on the paper. A swish here, a cross there and some red blotches.

BC and AD.

Before Christ and After Death.

The words repeated throughout the answer caught my attention. Nursing the cup of coffee in my hand, I took a deep breath.

Two simple terms that could break years of history into two parts.

My imagination took flight as I sat rocking in the Mahogany chair.

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My Mind wandered to the two phases of my life.

Before Shyam and After Shyam.

The moment we set eyes on each other, we had felt that we were “Made for each other”.

As the romance blossomed we were “Mad for each other”.

Finally when the card castle of relationship tumbled down, we were “Mad at each other”.

“Nothing lasts forever”, that was the words which came out of Shyam’s lips, the day we parted ways.

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I woke up from my reverie.

Keeping aside the answer sheets, I walked up to the mantel where the album we made together for our first anniversary lie. There was a tug at my heart as I ran my fingers over the pictures. The camera had not just captured the pictures, but also our love and care.

Two happy people genuinely in love stood beaming at each other.

Adoration and love reflected in our eyes.

What had happened to us?

Love had started to grow on us. As schedules clashed and interest waned, we saw less of each other. Long silences crept into the relationship and one day we just gave up.

We just decided to let go of each other. That was the easiest thing to do, escape and let go.

It still hurt and every bit of my heart yearned for the gone days.

I mused whether Shyam would be feeling the same. That very moment revealed to me, how much we needed each other.

By reflex, I took my phone and dialed his number, after a long gap of three years. On the fourth ring, he picked up.

“Hello”, I said with heart beating in my throat.

“Nimisha’, he replied.

As words flowed between us, the wall we built between us crumpled down.

“Nothing lasts forever”, I told him. With so much love for each other, we could not have stayed away for long anyway.

“Yes, we are truly made for each other”, he quipped.

In mind’s eye, I could see him smile. The warm smile which made his eyes twinkle, every time he sees me.

My heart skipped a beat under the glow of his love.

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