The Room of the dead

When I woke up, the sound of roaring waves were deafening. Lying
on an unnaturally comfortable queen sized bed, the first thing I noticed were flimsy
white drapes with tiny red flowers hung all around the bed, just like Arabian
Nights.

“What…  the..!!! Did
I reincarnate into a feaking Alif Laila…
”, thoughts started stacking up in my
mind. “Am I a princess now … Please let it not be a hairy tyrant!!”Removing the insanely
soft blanket I climbed down the bed.

It was then the familiarity of the room struck me. And it
struck real hard.
I looked around to find a neatly laid white table on an Egyptian
rug. A wall sized window overlooking the majestic ocean.
This was supposed to be our future home. I had bought that
rug from a suspiciously innocent street hawker. Ohh… how I fought for those
white drapes!! Even went on a hunger strike while you relished a box of
delicious nachos, right in front
of me.
“This is so wrong!! I
am not supposed to be here!!”
 

I was still wondering when the door opened.
And you walked in. As your handsome face emerged, I was taken back in time. The
mischievous glint in those eyes, had me at the first twinkle. I had fought wars
with the world just to see you smile.

How long is it? 5.. 6 .. years
Did you miss me, I
wanted to ask, but it was futile. I was gone. Long gone.
I was just a mist now.
When your eyes rested on the corner where I was standing, my heart must
have missed a beat
.
“so this is the room”, a high pitched female voice broke my reverie.
Immaculately dressed in black suit, a woman walked in. Blond, slim and unfortunately
extremely pretty. 



If only mist could throw daggers!!!
“I have heard so much about the house. You are such a charming man”,
she cooed, with a hand on her chest.
“If ever you marry this skunk and sleep in my satin draped bed, I swear
I will haunt you till eternity and whatever
that follows’”. I cringed at the thought.
Looking up I beseeched, “God.. Is this why I was woken from dead?…
to be mocked?”
“What do you think?”, I heard you ask. Did I imagine or your voice no
longer sounded lively?
“I love itttt”. She screamed in delight.
“Oh boy he is really going to give her my room”, a desperate thought
crossed my mind.
I watched you walk towards the window, gazing at the sun climbing down
the horizon, and lighting a cigarette.
“Ahaa you never gave up smoking… Liar!!”
The woman strolled around the room before taking out a bunch of paper
from her purse.
Please don’t tell me those are court marriage documents. I panicked.
“This was supposed to be my wife’s room, tried decorating it just the
way she wanted”
. You said with a smile, “But… 
could never sleep here. I think she haunts me”
.
We both chuckled. It was ages since we had laughed together. Together
yet worlds apart.
“Don’t worry, I will find you an excellent deal”, she said chirpily.
Oh she’s an agent, I thought happily. But the very second realization
dawned that you were selling the house. Strangely I felt relieved.
You were
finally letting me go. After filling up forms and taking the keys, the agent left. You lingered around
 till the sun was way beyond the horizon.
I saw you adjust the paper flowers on the vase, the ones that I had
made, caressing each petal.
With that you walked towards the open door, and throwing a last glance with moist eyes, closed it gently.
*******************

“So that’s why you woke me up”, I told God over a cup of coffee,“You
are right, we both needed closure”.

12 thoughts on “The Room of the dead

  1. oh teri!!! masttttt oneee!!! jhakaaassss absolutely!! loved every part of it…
    esp the minute nuances that tied it to you – paper flowers, princess, nachos!! perfect!! all the best fr the contest

Leave a Reply