The chill of the raw January morning cut into my skin despite the barrier of wools I was buried under. Some people would seize winter as an opportunity to remain tucked into the safety of their beds, I was going to meet Life and it made me walk on. Maybe it was time I told Ann, I pondered for the umpteenth time. It had been fifteen years of happy married life. I dint know how she would react to it. There are something’s in life you can never guess giving no heed to time. As her figure dawned at the horizon the thought of Ann was wiped out. As angelic as ever, she always took my breath away.
“Hi Khushi”.
“Hi Bruce”.
We hugged and sat on one of the benches lining the park.

I had never even in one of my wildest dreams thought I would love anyone more than Ann or Mike. That became history when I met Khushi. As beautiful as spring she breathed life into everything around her. Everyone got incessantly attracted to her. She was elixir. She reflected the beautiful world around her.

I still remember the grey morning when I first met her. I had thought she was one of those few lucky ones who had reason to be happy and made people realize what losers they are. I was proved wrong after being a few moments with her. She was indeed one of those who have you a reason to live. She grew on to becoming an intrinsic part of my life. It had been 8 months since this angel had stepped into my world. She was like a mirage behind which I ran in search of ambrosia.

“How wonderful was your day?” she asked.
“Just as wonderful as it could be”, I replied.
Out came the mesmerizing smile that made you feel nothing could go wrong after all.
“I got a promotion”, I exclaimed ecstatically.
“That’s wonderful”, she said.
There was a pain in her voice today, she was trying to conceal it, but hearing it made my happiness shrivel up. “Is everything fine?”, I was concerned. “Yes”, she lied. “People who can’t lie shouldn’t even try”. She smiled. “I lost my week worth’s wages yesterday”. I was shocked. I dint now what she did.
“What happened?” I asked softly
She hesitated. She was dancing on the street as usual and someone had just scooped her bag and walked away when she hadn’t seen. Something inside me cried out loud. I never knew this.

It was a routine we followed diligently. I met her for two hours everyday and gathered pearls of life and fulfillment from her. She became my pulsating need. I found solace and happiness which she radiated out. It made me want to fly in the bluey skies. Her innocence, her casual carelessness spelt of a different world with a sense of completeness. We spoke of simple everyday things. Never about her or about me. But she some how lighted a fire in me like a torch in a forest. It made me want to live to enjoy every moment of life. Whenever I met her I rebounded back with more energy wanting to do that extra bit in life. Don’t know how she did it.
But today was different. I held her close.

“Everything will be fine baby. I promise.”
She cried giving vent to all blocked up feelings. Every word she uttered was lke a blow to me. It was saying something to give reason to live to someone when you yourself don’t have a reason to survive. It was all so much calloused. She was an orphan with no one to care, living a life of utter impoverishment.
“Who would care if I died or lived”, she said.
It touched the innermost chords of my mortal heart.
“It would matter me. Everything is going to be fine “, I accentuated.
She looked up. I just realized how fragile everyone is.

I dragged myself home that day unable to take out her picture from my mind. The helplessness spoke volumes of the kind of life she lived and I couldn’t be just another spectator looking at her succumbing to the adversities of life. After all that she had done for me I definitely couldn’t.

Meeting her till then was a phenomenon I followed out of habit or addiction but now it had become a necessity. I spoke to Ann some how that day. The walls had began to close in and there was nothing else to do. The paperwork was going on and we just had to wait. Khushi dint know I wanted to give her a surprise. I hadn’t asked her but I was sure she wouldn’t say no.

It was a crisp morning with clouds circling the sky. Clad in her usual black she was waiting for me on the same bench. I went to her and sat down beside her. She looked up and smiled and the world fell into oblivion as usual.
“I want you to come home with me”, I said.
Ann was surprised when I told her about Khushi that day.
“She is wonderful”, I ended.
I looked down afraid to see the expression forming on her face.

I couldn’t read her face. It was the beginning of a new day. That is how Khushi Carter became a part of our family. Ann was proud of me of course. Why did I even doubt it? Ah…umm….I love her for understanding how important Khushi was for me. She agreed 12 years was too much considering Mike is only 3 but she was happy to have a daughter after all. Then as they say in the fairy tales ‘we lived happily ever after’.