He stood at the doorway watching her sitting in the rocking chair crooning to the infant in her arms.The room was barely illuminated by the moon beams filtering in through the sheer lacy curtains.She was silhoutted in the play of light and shadow in the room.As he stood there,his eyes were riveted to the woman in the room.Her soft rendition wafted in the air that was so still as if it was too scared to disturb the stillness of the night.His eyes glistened---difficult to say whether it was the trick of the light or something deeper.He was jerked out of his stupor by the creaking of the chair,as she shifted in it.
He stepped into the room and tiptoed to where she sat.She looked up at him with a smile playing across her thin white lips,even as she continued with her lullaby.An answering smile touched his mouth as he stretched out his arms for the child.For a few seconds her eyes flashed ,as if in protest.She seemed averse to let her bundle of joy out of her sight,even for a moment.However,soon her eyes softened and with infinite tenderness placed the child in his arms,rearranging the covers.
He cradled the baby in his arms,mouthing garbled words to it ,walked towards the window.He pushed the curtains out of the way and stood under the streaming light,lifting his face to the moon.It was a gaunt face, awash with silent tears! His parched lips moved....was it a complaint or a prayer? He bent his head and with trembling fingers pushed the covers aside.His arms held no human form.He was holding a rag doll!
Two years back,they lost their six month old baby boy.She has never been able to accept the loss.Ever since she has been living a life frozen in time.As for him ,he could never pluck enough courage to snap her out of her delusion.He couldn't afford death to win the second time too!Since then , he has been humouring her,surrendering himself to destiny.
Chandni.
He stepped into the room and tiptoed to where she sat.She looked up at him with a smile playing across her thin white lips,even as she continued with her lullaby.An answering smile touched his mouth as he stretched out his arms for the child.For a few seconds her eyes flashed ,as if in protest.She seemed averse to let her bundle of joy out of her sight,even for a moment.However,soon her eyes softened and with infinite tenderness placed the child in his arms,rearranging the covers.
He cradled the baby in his arms,mouthing garbled words to it ,walked towards the window.He pushed the curtains out of the way and stood under the streaming light,lifting his face to the moon.It was a gaunt face, awash with silent tears! His parched lips moved....was it a complaint or a prayer? He bent his head and with trembling fingers pushed the covers aside.His arms held no human form.He was holding a rag doll!
Two years back,they lost their six month old baby boy.She has never been able to accept the loss.Ever since she has been living a life frozen in time.As for him ,he could never pluck enough courage to snap her out of her delusion.He couldn't afford death to win the second time too!Since then , he has been humouring her,surrendering himself to destiny.
Chandni.
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