Forgotten Love

"Jannat's life has been as beautiful as her name. However, Neil's arrival has perfected it just like the cherry in a black forest cake does." As Mr. Smith takes a pause, Jannat desperately asks, "Is it really necessary to take a pause after every line ? Can't you read it little faster? I don't have a lifetime for proofreading." 

"Sorry, I feel something has got into my eyes.I will read it afterwards." He instantly leaves the room wiping away his tears.

-

Mr. Smith stands still looking through the window for awhile. Exactly opposite of the seven-storied building, he sees bunch of happy faces playing in the gritty beach, lovers smiling at each other, innocent children standing their arms wide open while trying to confine the vast sea in their little arms. The sight consists of happiness in all forms as if God's decided to shower all the joy He has on this sea-shore. "This universe is made of ironies." He thinks. How grief and joy, death and life have stood here facing each other for years.

How a single road accumulates the entire human population and divides them in two portion, all the miserable souls in one while the cheerful ones in other.

-

"Sister." Mr. Smith hears almost an unheard voice touching his ears and he instantly goes back to Jannat's room to meet her troubling to stand while holding a bloodstained tissue paper before her mouth while coughing heavily. Her pulse oximeter and oxygen mask have already been removed. He restlessly starts calling for doctor and nurse.

"How incautious a lady you are !" As soon as doctor comes, he almost yells at Jannat.

After reinstalling every single equipment and rechecking her, he warns her to not repeat the blunder as it can be lethal, while leaving.

-

"What's wrong with you?" Mr. Smith asks Jannat angrily.

"Give me my draft, I've to finish my book."

"I don't think it's good for you to take pressure to complete it at this stage." Mr. Smith says in a low voice.

"Who are you to suggest me anything? And what do you mean by at this stage ? Just give me my draft." Jannat snatches away the draft from him and starts writing.

"You know my book is only two pages away to get complete. I'm so happy for this." Jannat keeps on talking while writing the epilogue of her book whilst Mr. Smith keeps on staring at her.

-

"And here it finishes," Jannat says in a voice of contentment.

"Will you please read the last pages to me?

For the last time?" Jannat requests in a way that Mr.Smith cannot deny. He reads her book to herself throughout the night.

In the morning, when the doctor visits to check Jannat, he tells Mr. Smith to come along with him.

"I'm really sorry Neil but Jannat is really critical now. As you know, cancer has already damaged her brain severely and she's been suffering from partial memory loss since the last two years; she's forgotten you completely and every event related to you and eventually her name too. But now, I don't want to give you illusory hopes for this is the last stage." A doctor says, Mr. Smith can reply nothing.

"You know what I've met uncountable people here for years but never anyone like you, Neil. You're the breathing courage and a pure lover who has kept his promise of love even when his existence has been forgotten altogether." Doctor hugs him tightly when Neil recalls the last line of Jannat's book he's read, "Neil and Jannat have lived happily afterward."