The Dolphin

The lifeless things lying around us can trigger our memories, better than humans around us!

A steel-grey wristwatch, belonging to my late father, rests next to me like a beached animal with no fight left in it. I stare at it while its circular face propped on my glass table, looks at me motionlessly. The dials have stopped. The seconds needle, which used to move like an effortless dolphin, has also stopped. It is showing me 3:54. I wonder if it was a.m. or p.m.? The strap which goes around the wrist stretches linearly in a gently undulated form, exposing in parts its intricate joints and concealing its joints as it folds. The edge of the strap, like an outstretched fin, has letters embossed on it. The crystal hides some bruises and shows some bruises, barely making visible the 'U Automatic 21 jewels'. Will it be cold to touch? Of course, as I realize it is steel.

My eye moves towards the crown, a small circular knob jutting out, showing its teeth. I gently turn the knob hoping it might spring to life. Nothing. The dials stay unmoved. It has lived its life, I think. Not everything has a second chance, I reflect, getting ready for bed. I place the watch in my pajama’s pocket and walk towards my bed, turning off the light, thinking of all the life’s moments my father would have spent with it. Just for old times’ sake, just like my father would have done…I placed it next to my pillow and dozed off to sleep. 

When I wake up in the morning, I recollect the dream I had early in the morning! In my dream, standing on the sea sand along with my father, we save a beached dolphin, by pushing it back into the water. We look at it as it swims deep into the water, with a smug satisfaction on our faces! With a busy day ahead, trying not to think too much about it, I pick up the watch, with the seconds dial swinging and showing, believe it or not, the correct time! Was there a cosmic connection between my departed father, watch, and the dream? I wonder even as I mechanically start off my day!