Your Are Not Alone

Aniket was feeling depressed, although he just could not think of any specific reason for his mood. Here he was, walking alone on a beautiful forest path with no noise or other pollution. He should feel exhilaration instead of gloom. Perhaps his mood will get an uplift shortly if he keeps walking deep into the jungle.

As he stressed his mind, he remembered that he was virtually all alone in this world. His parents had cut off relations with him after he got married against their wishes. Unfortunately, the girl for whom he had cut himself off from his family, had also decided to leave him.

Was it yesterday, when she left him? His mind refused to answer him even though he tried to concentrate hard. Then he tried to think of the reasons for her leaving, but even those reasons failed to occur to him. Perhaps he himself was to blame and his mind was protecting him from keeping the memories in some inaccessible corner.

He wondered if he had any other friends on whom he could lean for support. But no names came to his mind. Maybe he had some friends in his office. He remembered going to the office daily and doing some work there, but nothing more.

He tried to calm his mind by focussing on pleasant thoughts. With all his problems, he was walking on a beautiful path. He could talk to plants and flowers on the way. They may not reply, but they might indicate their response by swaying with the breeze.

As he reached the turning, he saw someone coming from opposite directions and walking towards him. He might make a new friend in this place.

He could make out that it was some woman, but he could not identify the person from the distance. As she came nearer, he realised it was his own wife. Soon she was very near to him but she walked past him without speaking to him.

Has it come to this that were not even on speaking terms? It must not have been very long when they parted. He remembered that they had been married for slightly less than a year. He did not look back and continued walking. He will follow the road and see where it took him. Although sad, he was far from being tired.

He just had to walk on.

He felt some wetness on his face. As he opened his eyes, he saw that his wife had poured a full mug of water on his face. So she had not left him. It was just a dream.

He complained, “Why did you have to do that?”

She replied, “You were muttering in your sleep. I tried to wake you up but was not responding.

She paused for some time, then added, “Get up, else I will pour more water on your face. We have some guests waiting for you in the drawing room.

He grumbled, but got up and walked into the room. He saw that sofa was occupied by the people whom he had known for a long time. They were his parents.