She Was Getting Ready For Her Anniversary Like Every Year But Fate Had Other Plans

62-year-old Naina was in a room and checking her cupboard with excitement on her face. She had to pick a favorite saree from her huge collection. She had taken a holiday today and she wanted to give a thought to the dress she was wearing for her anniversary.

Her son Deepak had come home during his holidays and he saw his beautiful mother sitting quietly in the room, with all her sarees strewn across the room and the evening sun rays falling on her through the adjacent window. He came close to her, drew the curtains and said, ”Still Maa? It has been so many years now. This is not the age to do all this stuff, especially when you know it won’t work out the way you’re planning.”

Naina looked at him with the most satisfied smile on her face and said, ”Did you eat something?”, clearly shrugging off the remark made by her son.

”I will eat something after some time,” said Deepak and went towards his room, mumbling in anger.

Naina’s eyes followed Deepak going into his room. When she was sure he had shut the bedroom door, she went through the collection again; this time closely scrutinizing each saree that could suit her wheatish complexion. As she was comparing each saree, she stumbled upon a pink one. Her eyes welled up with tears.

And soon enough, she had memories of the particular college scene in her head. This was something that her mind refused to forget; it was permanently registered.

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*Traditional Day at college*

”Hi! I am Chinmay. I know you very well from that debate competition, we had last week. I must say, you are one hell of an orator, Naina,” said Chinmay in bated breaths, after following her from the college canteen.

”Haha! Thank-you. I don’t consider myself that good, but if you say that, I’ll believe you,” said Naina. She slyly checked him out. He looked very handsome in a traditional kurta-pyjama. She was used to seeing him in sportswear almost every day.

”You look beautiful in pink, Naina. Trust me, you do.”

”Thank you once again. Aren’t you done complimenting me? I think it’s enough for today. I have to go,” she said with the most beautiful smile on her face.

As she left, Naina knew how she had controlled the blush on her face when he complimented her. She liked him. She had seen him play football, his favorite sport in the college playgrounds.

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Treeeeeeeeeeeeen! The door bell rang.

Naina stood up after putting a pause to those college memories. She walked towards the door to open it.

It was the milkman. Naina collected the milk from him and closed the door. She had told the milkman to get some extra milk for her on her anniversary so that she could prepare more sweet dishes.

She entered the kitchen to prepare some dishes and give final touches to the dishes already prepared.

”It has to be perfect like every year. No mistakes!” she exclaimed. 

She had already prepared her husband’s favorite meals and she was now concentrating on the sweet dishes. As she was preparing the meal, she couldn’t help but think about Chinmay.

They were in a relationship since their college days. Their college friends thought that they had the best relationship. They had gotten married and shared a peaceful and a happy married life. They loved each other more after each passing year.

On their 25th anniversary, Naina remembered telling Chinmay the importance of dreaming.

And after hearing her out, he had spoken, ”I met you and I stopped dreaming. Why dream if the reality is better than the dreams?”. Hearing that, Naina thought it was too cheesy, but nevertheless, she had blushed.

It was moments like these that made her happy because after living these moments, she realized how happy she was. She couldn’t have asked for more. 

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”What is that sweet smell, Maa?”, asked Deepak, barging into the kitchen following the sweet smell.

”Oh! Nothing, just a sweet simple dish that your father likes,” she said.

”Okay! I won’t tell you anything now, Maa. You can do anything you want, but still, I will tell you again: It’s of no use. Dad has changed.”

Only Naina’s heart knew the pain as Deepak said that. She replied softly that it was okay.

”You can taste this and do your work,” Naina continued.

”Changing the topic won’t help, Maa. It just won’t. Why don’t you understand?”

”Enough now! Go back.”

Deepak put the bowl on the kitchen platform and left.

Naina checked the clock. It showed 8 PM. ”Óh! It’s so late, already. Let me put the meal on the dining table so that we can dine together, just like the old times.”

She arranged the entire table with all her home cooked dishes. She went upstairs and put on her pink saree. She went inside to get the man from the other room.

She saw him sitting on his wheelchair and staring at the football lying in the corner. She went towards him and touched his shoulder.

”Stopppppp! Just leave me alone… What are you doing, woman? Stoppppp holding me, just stop,” said the man.

”But, it’s me! Just have a look. I’m wearing the pink saree that you liked once-upon-a-time.”

With a startled expression, he said, ”What are you saying? I never liked that pink saree. I lied to you.”

Having said this, he looked at her intently. Naina thought that maybe he is checking her out like he used to in college.

But, he had something else to say. ”Go away from here. Leave me alone.”

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Closing the door, Naina couldn’t stop crying. She checked her reflection in the mirror and saw her teary-eyed face. As she was wiping her tears, she saw a piece of paper stuck on one of the drawers. She took it out. It was the piece of paper that had changed her life. 

It was a report that said Chinmay had Alzheimer’s disease.

She had devoted half of her life hoping that Chinmay would be fine some day. She was hoping against the hopes. But, sadly, he didn’t. She had consulted many doctors, but he didn’t any better.

Reading the whole report again, she smiled. She couldn’t help but think about the insane promises that they made to each other back in college days. This was one of the aimless banters that they had one day.

”And if I get Alzheimer’s and forget you?”, she asked.

”I will love you then also and remind you every day that you’re dating a handsome man. I will love you even in the moments I hate you,” he answered.

Little did she know that the conversation she had with him would turn out to be true one day, only with the roles reversed!

And she loves him, even today. Though he doesn’t remember who she is.

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