Message in a Bottle

Message in a Bottle

 

The first day of vacation. Her first holiday without Naitik. The hotel room had a breathtaking view of the blue sea. Chahat could not wait to welcome the incoming waves.

 

The route from the hotel to the beach was led by small palm groves. Chahat sat very close to the water, buried her feet in the warm sand, looking out to the sea. She felt deep sadness inside. Why had she separated from Naitik? Seven years, seven happy years they had spent together. They had lived, loved, laughed and cried together. So she still could not believe the separation.

 

"Increasing Distance", "Growing Apart", "Confrontation", "Separation", "Remain Friends". The different sets of the last two years went through her head again and again. "But why?" she wondered. Both were faithful to each other, both loved each other and both cared for each other. And yet!

 

"I must find some reason for our separation and move on. Otherwise I would be sitting alone at this wonderful beach forever," she thought wistfully, and decided to banish her lost love from her thoughts for the duration of the vacation. She closed her eyes, immersed entirely into the warmth of the sun and the rhythmic sound of the waves. Now, just at this moment, she would like the time to stop.

 

This peaceful meditation eased her mind and put her thoughts to relax. She stretched her body lazily and felt something hard touching her right foot. She sat up and noticed a small bottle right under her feet. "Even at such a beautiful place people had to leave their rubbish lying around," was her first thought. But then she discovered something white inside the bottle.

Intrigued, she took the bottle in her hand, washed the sand from the seawater and tried to open it. The bottle opened only after some effort. It looked old. Inside it was a slightly yellowed, rolled document. "Message in a bottle," thought Chahat and carefully unrolled the delicate paper. In beautiful calligraphy she read the handwritten lines:

 

"Dearest Pia,

After many disagreements and discouragements from my heart, I finally write you these lines.

Since I have been betrayed by this treacherous world many times, I cannot take the risk to send you this letter with a messenger. For this reason I give this message to a true friend who would never betray or deceive me. The Sea. And since I know that even you, trusted the sea most, I am confident that you will receive this letter. If not in this, sure in a later life.

The day when I saw you for the first time was one of the most beautiful days of my life. You immediately caught my eye, you were, and since to this day, are very special. It is impossible to describe my feelings at the moment; we faced each other for the first time. I had the feeling of being alone with you in a world beyond this world. We looked into each other's eyes and knew at that moment that we are meant to be together. Our wedding vows, exactly one year later, made me the happiest man in the universe. Seven wonderful years were granted to us.

Seven years in which the sun never set. Seven years in which your laughter, your sweet voice and your love, every day taught me something new about life. Our life was so perfect that now, it hurts.

Our happiness was spited by that vicious Angel of Death. He took you away from me and consumed our love, peace and happiness. All I was left with, were memories and Pari, our charming, beautiful little daughter. If not for her, I would have followed you long ago to be with you forever.

My love, wait for me, for nothing can take away the love we shared, not even death. We will see each other again.

Yours Prasay,

Mumbai.

15th December, 1987."

 

Chahat held the letter carefully close to her heart. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

She stood and gave one last look to the sea. "Thank you," she said. "Thank you for everything. I need to call Naitik urgently," she thought and walked towards the hotel.