Rainbows!

Sunbeams were scattered across the soft ripples of the lake, forming tiny rainbows above the water surface. They looked like colourful fairies gracefully dancing in joy! Soft breeze filled with the sweet fragrance of flowers stroked Yami and Naren gently, refreshing their senses. The bluebirds and robins tweeted in symphony and they both gleamed in tranquil bliss. Spring was here!

After their morning walk, it was a daily ritual for Yami and Naren to sit by the lake together to watch the sun go up over the pale blue skies. Yami loved to discover new varieties of flowers planted across the lake garden. She would click pictures and would later research on their names and blooming seasons. Naren was particularly interested in spotting birds, so they would walk over the hill where dense and tall trees lined the walkway. Later they would steadily walk back home hand in hand. Their children were in another country, not too far away, busy growing their wings to fly high in the career skies. Roshni and Rohan would come down to meet them quite often. “All what we want for you now is to get you married Rohan,” they both would tell him whenever he would visit. Rohan would blush and say,” will tell you when the time is right Papa,” And the right time never came! What came was a merciless storm that toppled their world upside down …. leaving behind a trail of emotional damage.

After a week of incessant rains, Yami and Naren went for their usual walk, which they were so dearly missing. The sky was crystal clear and sun shone behind an exquisite rainbow that arched the vast azure sky. Birds were cheeping and chirping as if welcoming them back to the garden. It was a heavenly morning. But the blissful morning turned sorrowful when Yami tripped and fell while walking along the lake and she hit her head hard against a rock. Naren tried to revive her with his grueling CPR efforts. The tweeting birds became louder, as if calling out in pain…. the skies turned grey and the rainbow was gone!

Today, after six months, Naren came back to the garden. He was pushing a wheelchair, in which sat Yami floppily. The magnitude of her fall had left her paralysed and disabled. With the overwhelming support of their children and friends along with Naren’s boundless love and undertakings, she was able to breathe in flesh and blood. He took her on a leisure walk around the garden ramp and then settled down on the same spot by the lake. The rising sun peeked from behind the clouds scattering its brilliance and glow all around. The morning was chilly and breezy. Golden sunbeams pierced the ripples of the lake. Yami spotted the tiny rainbows just above the sparkling waters. She could also see a dainty figure of a fairy dancing amidst the rainbows and smiling gleefully at her…...she involuntarily smiled back. Naren saw her beaming face and his eyes twinkled in elation. The cool breeze instantly seemed warm and cozy and he tenderly held her hand as they both gazed at the rainbows!