She was racing through the traffic on the road. She had to drive 20 km as soon as possible to catch up with her dying husband. She had just got a call on her mobile saying her husband was critically ill and wanted to see her for one last time. She had got such requests many a times before but has not made it. Something stopped her from visiting him.
It was not just her car which was racing; her mind too but in the reverse direction. 4 years ago, the same husband had accused her of an illicit relationship with her colleague. All her justifications fell on deaf ears. She decided enough was enough and decided to live alone. She was living all alone for the past four years. Neither had she called him up nor did she talk to him. She had not met him for the past 4 years.
Now something made her to oblige his request. She went into his room amidst sharp stares and frowns from her relatives. The tired and dying eyes of her husband became moist the moment they met his wife’s. She was asked to sit beside him. His weak hands took hers into them. She was looking at him straight into his eyes. Her face was as stern as a rock.
He apologized with all sincerity and was looking at her for an acknowledgement. But she was just gazing at him sternly. His heart stopped beating, while his hands were still holding hers and his eyes still looking at hers. The last drop of tear managed to come out of his eyes. She slowly let his hands go away and stood up. She just stared at him for one last time and moved out of the place.
She could hear all sorts of murmurs and accusations from all around, as she was moving away. Someone was saying, “Couldn’t she at least acknowledge his apology? One cannot be so arrogant to a person in death bed.” But why should one glorify a person during death? Can everything one does get justified during death? A word is a word and so is a mistake. Would he accuse her if he really trusted her or had real respect for her? Or will all the damages done be set right by an apology? Arrogant! Is she?
