Shared Milestones

She reclined further into the seat of the car and closed her eyes…the cool, dusty wind lashed across her face. Strands of her hair had escaped the fetters of her hairclip and was now playing truant- she tucked them back impatiently… She always enjoyed the sense of relaxation sitting in a fast paced vehicle- specially enchanting if some soulful music played in the background. Her mind became empty so to say, and she relished such moments when everything seemed so irrelevant- just an exquisite sense of peace.

But today, her mind was not empty, some pictures flashed in that inward eye-that quaint feeling Wordsworth spoke about in Daffodils-pictures that did not quite upset the calm in her mind but yes did cause a few ripples…

She had seen him today again after so many years…He looked the same..well almost, the twinkle in his eyes had been replaced by adepth, maturity that years, and life experiences endow, there were streaks of grey in his temples, but she noticed the gleam in his eye when he recognized her. At first, there was a blank look followed by utter disbelief, and finally when it dawned on him that it was really her, the old, gleam flashed in his eyes…. They kept looking at eachother for some moments, moments of recapitulation, recollection,understanding,remembered affection- moments frozen in time!

She had hoped to be able to meet him again, she knew he would still be around, he never would have left that place. Why she wanted to see him, she was not sure, just for old times sake perhaps. She did not have anything to say, neither did he, and yet just to stoke the fondmemories of an affection lost in time.

She first saw him when she was in school. He was a few years older and somehow she liked him. There was no reason, no logic,she justliked him. He told her stories, showed her how to make some rustic toys, carried her around. And anyway she was too young to think anything about her fondness- She was uninhibited in her affection ,she did not hide that she liked him better than his friends. He was both embarrassed and flattered by her attention.

She remembered how his friends taunted him, teased him about her obvious soft corner for him. She had not realized it then, but with passing years she understood.

Seasons came and went, the little girl became a little woman, her affection remained, but now she withdrew. They rarely met, but sometimes their eyes clashed stealthily, shy smiles exchanged…and that was it- there were no words spoken…

Years passed, she got married, he did too- they met eachother at some functions- circumstances now permitted them to make polite, formal small talk about the welfare of the other- somewhere a sleeping memory rustled, and was hushed back to slumber…

And today, time and age had given them the sanction of maturity in life, experiences, and she sought him out. She had no specific purpose, it was just an attempt to acknowledge silently without words a gratitude for shared milestones- the first encounter, a glimpse into an unfamiliar and yet sweet reservoir of sensitivity, warmth-pure, pristine, too young to be tainted by instincts- So while they spoke outwardly the language of the world making enquiries about family,mutual well being, silently, unseen, unheard, they retraced steps into the distant past- they savoured the fragrance of fond memories of shared milestones…and then wishing the best for eachother went their separate ways…


Sleep caressed her eyelids, a smile played on her lips- of contentment ,of Happiness… she could not wait to get back to her wonderful present.. refreshed, rejuvenated after a glimpse into a fragrant past.


Story inspired by the movie-autograph- where the hero goes to visit special people from his past to invite them for his wedding- it seems such a delightful idea to visit people after many many years,people who have been special, have influenced us in some way or the other, just to say hello, to acknowledge their role in our lives-however brief, transient it may have been…it is gratifying to see the surprise, the pleasure, disbelief at the passage of time…