Reminiscences

The cold night seemed to penetrate each and every pore of his body. The darkness of it, the coldness of it, formed a part of him. The mist shrouded him; he went out of sight for a second, and the next he was there again, standing. Gazing out in the vastness, his eyes fixed at an invisible point. One wondered if there was something he could see through such darkness lit by the faded moonlight, in vain.

And then, as if after eons, there was a movement. The neck slightly arched upwards. The moon- it appeared as a glowing smudge against a black chalkboard. The strong breeze was tearing his sight, or was it the reminiscence? 

His grip on the iron railing grew stronger, the veins of his hands had suddenly become more obvious. His knees were perhaps refusing to hold his burden any longer. His lips were firmly pursed together. His brow very stern. His eyes growing warmer. His head bowed down and his eyes closed for the first time in ages.  A warm drop of salt water escaped the inner corner of his eye and settled on his hand, just above his knuckles. 

His eyes opened and caught the faint twinkle on his hand. A subtle but remorseful smile touched his lips. His head straightened back to the former position. His grip loosened. And, he gazed out in the vastness, his eyes fixed at an invisible point- yet again.

Somewhere nearby, a pair of brown eyes closed tightly in agony and a curtain fell down. 

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Phir khayalon mein tere qurb ki khusbu jaagi

Phir barasne lagi aankhain meri baadal ki tarah...