The Final Breath

Till death do us part.

No matter what anyone says, everyone of us longs to hear those five words. You could be sceptic or a cynic, but deep down inside, you want someone to say that to you.

I’m a regular human being, and so I longed for these five words too. And, I got them.

“Till death do us part, Ani,” he had said to me eight years back.

No he was not my boyfriend or fiancée or even my husband. He was my best friend. Sameer.

We became best friends the first time we met and shared a very deep understanding from the very beginning. In the last eight years he had been my constant companion, with me, every step of my journey.

Sometimes we spend our whole life looking for the one person who means the world to us. Sometimes we find them in a spouse. But I found that one person in Sameer. Exactly what it is that the two of us share, is a mystery to even us. Our bond is a step ahead of ‘friendship’, but it is a step behind ‘love’. We are somewhere in between. We love each other deeply, but as nohing more than a true and honest friend.

Eight years back, when we finished school, I was scared that I might lose him. That we may drift apart and lose this bond which was just ours to claim. That was when he said those five words to me. Death never came, and we never fell apart.

But now, things are different. Death had come to pull us apart.

It was two in the night and I was struggling to breathe. Sameer’s and my parent’s faces drifted in my vision, masked with worry. I had told my parents not to call him. He was getting married in two days so I wanted him to be with Rashi, his fiancée. I was hoping that the doctors would do something as they had always done before and buy me two more days, so I could be with Sameer as he stepped into the shoes of a married man. But obviously, death was not to be swayed my praying and hoping, as it commanded the Cancer to take what I had left in me.

“Anika, beta, don’t worry. It’s all going to be okay,” I heard my mother’s voice shaking as she attempted to stop the dam from bursting open.

“Ani, stay with me,” Sameer said. “You’re gonna stay here. You’re gonna be with me when I marry Rashi. You’re gonna be with me and her throughout, you promised.” He too was breathing deeply, to control himself and maintain his composure. But I guess, he couldn’t. “Dammit Anika! You can’t leave me! You’re supposed to be here ten years later and embarrass me in front of my kids telling them about our silly school days!” Under his closely knitted eyebrows, I saw his eyes beginning to leak as my mother burst into tears.

With all the energy I had left, I motioned him to come closer. When his ear was next to my lips, I whispered, “I’ll be back. I won’t leave you. You ain’t getting rid of me this easy.”

I pulled back to look at my parents, and then I looked at him again, hoping he knew how grateful I was to God for making him a part of my life.

And then, I took my last breath.

* * * * * * * *

2 YEARS LATER

I paced outside the maternity ward, waiting for the doctor to come outside and give some news, any news. Rashi had gone into labour a month and a half before she was due. My mother sat on the chair, praying for both her and the baby. There was worry and anxiety etched into our faces as we waited with our hearts heavy. Every step I took made me feel more anxious and I felt there was no end to this anxiety. Perhaps the pacing was bad for me, but it was the only thing I could think of doing. Being in motion gave me the feeling that I had a purpose and I was doing something. Idleness was not even close to me.

"Sameer beta, why don't you sit down. Just try to relax. Everything will be okay." My mother said. I knew she wanted me to feel a little better but the extreme stress of the situation was making me edgy. Why isn't the doctor coming? I thought to myself.

The door opened and the doctor came out. She put a hand on my shoulder, smiled, and said, “Congrats, it’s a girl. Rashi is tired but otherwise okay. The baby is under observation. Go on in and meet Rashi.” She smiled again and left.

I heaved a sigh of relief and went to meet Rashi. I sat next to her, took her hand and kissed her forehead. She was pale and had dark circles which looked as if they would never go away. The delivery seemed to have worn her out completely and her exhausted eyes tried not to shut and fall asleep. "We're good, Rashi. You're okay." I said to her and smiled. She turned back and smiled at me, and the love I felt for her overpowered me, as everything faded away into nothingness and there was just me and her. I kissed her forehead and said, "Sleep. You are obviously beyond exhaustion. Sleep and rest." I silently thanking God for keeping my wife and daughter safe.

Half an hour later, I went to see my daughter for the first time. She was tiny and looked extremely fragile. Being premature, she was not fully developed and I could see a few veins through her scalp. Her legs and arms, so tiny, as skinny as twigs, waving around as she moved them. Her eyes, a deep brown, just like Rashi. Then she turned and looked at me. A moment later she smiled the most beautiful smile I had ever seen. And I gasped with shock.

I knew that smile. It was burnt in my memory. I had been dying to see it for two long years. And seeing it, I knew my wait was over. She kept her promise. She came back me.

Through the sobs that shook my entire frame, I smiled back at my daughter and said, “It’s good to see you again, Anika.”

My best friend had come back.

Hey guys. Thank you for taking the time to read this. I would really appreciate if you could review this. Anything at all that want to point out, please do so. I'd love improve and make it better. Thank you so much!

Harshita :)