Goodbye

It happens all the time. At railway stations, at airports, at bus stations...everywhere.

Raghav searched for the car keys in his pockets. He opened the arched gate and latched it as silently as he could lest the sleeping watchman finds him sheepishly. The gate of the house was far from the place where the car was parked, yet he was finding it difficult to prolong his departure. He sat in the car, rolled down the window and looked at the balcony of the house she lived.

Who is she?

Doesn't matter for us. 

There was no one at balcony. Did he expected her to be watching him? Did he expect her to smile graciously and wave while he drive himself away? It would have been better. Why do people come to say Goodbye at station? Train stops for just two minutes. You can't talk much in two minutes. You have just enough time to say Goodbye. 

Raghav looked at the balcony one more time. Still no one. He checked his phone in case she left him a message. 

Nothing.

A sea of grief was coming to Raghav. He didn't want to get drowned in that sea before her house. The car danced down the street in a low hum like a villain smiling over lover's separation. As if by intuition, Raghav looked in mirror and found the balcony empty again.

It was 6 AM. The roads that looked miserable and sorry during the rush hours were smiling now. Cold wind ruffled his hair. 

"Some Goodbyes are tough. Because they are precious. Like a diamond. Diamond is precious because it is rare. But why Goodbye? Can't you meet again? Perhaps not. Not in the same aroma, not in the same serenity. Not in the same love. Not in the same selflessness. Not in the same humor. And definitely not in same innocence.", Raghav's was playing Q&A with himself.

"How does it feel?", Asked one Raghav to another.

"Like you have left something behind that you can't bring back. The pain is beautiful. The sorrow is enjoyable. And the memories memorable.", replied one Raghav to another.

"Will you remember?" Another question.

"Yes. I will. Not just remember. I will smile while remembering. I will cherish when life will be struggle. I will live. "

A sudden flash interrupted the conversation between two Raghavs.

The morning sun was at its full beauty. The water of lake was reflecting it to charm the passerby who were oblivious to the beauty around. Mostly everyone is. They like something that they don't have. Sunrise in Arunachal Pradesh is in bucket list when we have not witnessed the sunrise at our terrace in years. 

Raghav stooped the car. He looked at water.

The radio in car was playing, "मैं जिंदगी का साथ निभाता चला गया, हर फिक्र को धुएं में उडाता चला गया"

She gathered all her courage. A Goodbye is necessary, how much ever painful it may be. The meeting remains incomplete without it. She walked down to balcony. She saw his car leaving her house lane. She waved him.

There was a Goodbye.

Only that two people never knew about it.