Heavenly aromas wafted from the kitchen as she Cooked his Favourite Dishes. They had an ugly argument over something very trivial but it upset all that was going smoothly for so long. But she certainly knew how to make up after a fight. She simply had to get in to the kitchen to cook and magic unfolded by itself.
A quick glance at the clock and her fretting hands sped up . Mentally she was ticking off items from her list. He must be on his way and she had so many things to finish. This was the best way she could make up for their last fight. Each tiff was followed by a sumptuous Meal comprising of his Favourite dishes, all cooked by her. He would sit grumpily at the table waiting for his meal and she would slowly and carefully serve him one delicious dish after another. By the end of the meal they would be lost in each other’s eyes.
She could never quite remember all the details of that particular day. As everyday it was about time he reached home. She knew which trains he boarded to and fro from office. Naturally, she started panicking when he didn’t return hours past his usual time. Suddenly the phone rang. One of the kids answered it and called out for her, “Maa, some person is asking for you. Come here quickly”. She ran up to the phone. Something within her stirred, making her uneasy. She knew at that instant that he was no more. The man on the other end was merely repeating what her inner voice had told her few seconds back. He had slipped from the crowded train and died on spot. There was a blur as her world toppled with her.
As life moves on time heals all wounds. She too recovered from the shock and occupied herself in raising her kids, just the way the two of them would have. Days turned into months and months rolled into years. She cooked even now. But the magic touch was gone. His untimely death has killed her Midas touch. Nursing her kids through their illness when she sat by their bedside or when she felt terribly low, she could sense him around her. His warmth gave her much needed strength to go on. Unknowingly, she got into a habit of conversing with him. She told him everything. Shared all the happenings of the day just like they would when he was alive. She found solace in that routine.
Then one day she announced to her family that she would be cooking a special meal for all of them. Everyone was surprised. She had not shown such zest for cooking in a long time. The dinner was delicious. Just like old times. Before going to bed her youngest son held her soft hands and said, “Maa, tonight’s dinner was lovely”. A smile spread over her face that lit up in deep satisfaction. They sat in silence for some time until it was time to go to bed. Before leaving her room her youngest wanted to ask her if she had purposely cooked all of dad’s favourite dishes tonight, but he didn’t. Maa must be tired he thought and he did not want to upset her.
Alone in her room, she smiled. He was around her, happy and contented. Today after years their house had smelled like before. The aromas of his favourite dishes had filled the air and her love for him filled his heart. The next day she was gone. She slept peacefully and left this world with a smile on her lips. After unravelling her magic one last time for her family, she left them on her anniversary to be with the love of her life, who had waited for her for years together. Yesterday on their reunion, they renewed their vows and promised to love each other for better or worse, in sickness and in health, in life and in afterlife.
