TOGETHER FOREVER

There was a young couple staying in the countryside of Scotland. They loved to stay there as they liked enchanting villages rolling countryside, ice caped mountain peaks, and bustling cities. Their village gave an essence of the Scottish culture in the best possible way. The stone streets of these beautiful villages are lined with colourful storefronts, quaint shops, fishing piers and folk music lifting one’s spirit. They were leading a peaceful life. Smith was working in a marketing firm whereas Lisa was working in an International Bank. Financially they were quite content. As the time passed, Lisa gave birth to twins – a boy and a girl. Both were happy as their family was complete. Lisa left the job and took great care of her kids. She did all her house hold course and paid full attention to her kids and Smith. Smith worked hard and got a promotion in the office. Now, being in a marketing firm, sometimes he had to travel to other parts of the country for a week or so. But still he left no stone unturned in taking care of his beautiful wife and his kids. He loved his wife so much that all his family and friends started appreciating him. 

The kids grew old and were boarded in a good school for higher studies. Lisa, again joined for part time job in a firm dealing in share market as she had thorough knowledge of banking and accounts. Lisa was not worried about her son and daughter now as they turned into a handsome man and a beautiful woman. Her son Peter got a very good job with a handsome salary and perks. He got married with his girlfriend Anna. Lisa and Smith were happy as his son and his wife used to pay them a visit once in a month. Lisa’s daughter Shaila also did her course and joined an Airline as Air hostess. She kept on flying to foreign countries. Now Lisa and Smith were growing old. Though both of them continued their work as they wanted to live comfortable life on their own. They had two grand children by now. Lisa used to make delicious cakes for them whenever they paid visit to the village. But with time their visits got reduced as everyone got busy in their work and school. Shaila used to visit her parents whenever she visited Scotland. She took great care of her parents. 

Life becomes dull, sad, full of depression and grief. The same happened with Smith who lost his loving wife Lisa in a car accident. He spent hours in holding Lisa’s wedding ring as he felt her presence near him. He used to open his heart to the ring thinking it to be Lisa. One day Shaila paid him a visit and was shocked to see her father in such a condition. She immediately told her father to leave that house and took him to another country approx. 400 kms away from Scotland. She thought that her father will feel better in different ambience and will forget about her mother in a period of time. Smith stayed in a small house situated in a small countryside village amidst a forest and a valley. This place was calm and peaceful. He could hear the sweet calls of chirping birds, could sense the fresh air of blooming flower. This was enough for him to make him cheerful. He started feeding the birds. He kept seeds and bread crumbs on the windowsill for birds and squirrels. He spend his time in enjoying the nature but still he used to hold the wedding ring in his palm and went down the memory lane. One day when he was feeding the birds, he saw a crow perched on a branch of a tree opposite to his first-floor house. He was shy to come and eat but slowly he started eating breadcrumbs and became friendly with him. Now he used to eat even from his hand. One day while feeding the crow, the wedding ring fell down. Smith went down and searched the place thoroughly but could not find. He felt sad but the crow started bring him gifts like shining caps of bottles, feathers or shining buttons to thank him. This continued for a year or so. Now as Smith was growing old, he wanted to spend his last times in Scotland. He asked Shaila to take him there. Shaila brought him to his old house. Smith felt a great relief there but lonely journey was not that easy. He was now comparing things with what he was doing since last one year. He missed the bird’s chirping, sweet smell of blossoms and specially the crow. 

After three months, he went to Lisa’s room and opened one of the windows. He let the fresh air come in the room. He used to clean the room every day. His daughter liked that now he got settled down and she could go on her flight duty. After she left, Smith came to Lisa’s room and started looking outside the window. Suddenly, he heard crow’s call. Now he thought this could be a native crow as he travelled back a long distance and his friendly crow could not come there. But he was wrong, it was the same crow. The crow flew near the windowsill of Lisa’s room and brought a ring in his beak. Smith took it as gift from him and fed him cake. After feeding, he looked at the ring and was shocked to see that it was the wedding ring he lost. Now he realised that as to why he always felt the presence of Lisa near him. He felt that Lisa had come back to him in disguise of a crow. He cried a lot and thanked the bird. The bird sat on his shoulder as if consoling him. After a week of this incident Smith took his last breath and left for his heavenly abode and no one saw that crow after that. This proved that together forever actually exist.