He Shall Not Return

It was another Diwali. The land had been lit up with numerous lights. Where there were no lights, the bright smiles on the faces of the people celebrating the festival were lighting up the atmosphere. I was so excited. It was the time of the year that I would meet him again. I used to meet him once or maximum twice every year. But those few moments were enough for both of us, such was our love. Every time we met, he used to remember how we spent whole nights together all those years back, me drifting off to sleep, only when he held me close. He used to remind me of the beautiful song he has sung for me, a song that was an ode to the beautiful moon that sparkled in the darkness of the silent nights. He used to always remind me of how special I was to him, and no matter how many came after me, I always remained his first! He made me feel like a princess, his princess! 

As I entered the beautiful house, I was looking forward to reliving all those memories with him, once again, to feel special once again. I walked up to him, tip-toeing, and I put my arms around his neck and cried loudly in his ears "Guess who, Grandpa!" He turned around with a smile that reached his eyes, deepening his wrinkles. He broke into a toothless grin as he felt my face with his work-hardened hands. "My princess!" He exclaimed. "My firstborn grandchild, my one and only granddaughter," he said, two tears trickling down his cheek. I hugged him tightly. Then he took my hand and led me up the steps, to our special place, the place that was our secret hideout, a tiny room overlooking his work desk. We sat on the settee, holding hands, reminiscing about my childhood, which I barely remembered and he barely forgot. Soon, it was time to leave. I hugged him once again. He waved me goodbye and walked off. He never liked to see me go. But that day, when I looked at him walking away, something tugged at my heart! That was last year's Diwali! 

It is Diwali again, but I won't reminisce about my childhood this year, because the one person who remembered it so perfectly is gone far away. I wait and wait to see one glimpse of him. I still wait for him in silence, but deep down I know, he shall never return!