There was something unusual about this winter. It was neither the chilling cold nor the creeping fear. It was the dead silence. It was the hysterical plague of silence haunting and provoking nightmares. No one had the clue to what was happening. It was once a peacefully crowded city with melodious music and laughter spreading out into every inns and apartments. Now, it turned into an abandoned place. People seemed to take less interest and many moved to other places in search of better life. It left voids in the hearts of the city dwellers and everybody gossiped about it. But some managed to cope up with the changes and continued their daily chores despite the emptiness bringing an unknown ruthless darkness.
All the fun! All the smiles! All the celebrations! Where are all these gone? Is this some kind of sorcery? Or a kind of curse inflicted upon the happy land? Does this resemble the aftermath of a war? The innocent farmers had been bereaved of their harvest. The mothers had been assigned with additional works to feed hungry mouths. The roads seemed less travelled and the shops less visited. The old prayer flags fluttered weakly. The sounds of the temple bells were fading. The usual howls and cries of the packs of stray dogs were becoming less frequent. Even the birds were flying off towards other side of the valley. Happiness had unfortunately faded into the thin air, spreading a melancholic shivers throughout the city.
“I will come back”. The husky voice still lingers in his mind. The promise was not kept for a sake, it was determined with a strong purpose. He slowly rocks his old dusty chair as he sips his hot coffee in the balcony. He had aged more than he should. It was the stress and the longings that kept him awake most of the nights. His intense gaze was focused to those peaks adorned with thick creamy ice unfolding its beautiful scenery as the sun slowly distributes its rays upon the ranges. He could still breathe strong and walk miles. That kept him mentally youthful. He feels a soft gentle pad on his shoulder. Before he could utter a word, he is handed over a beautiful new sky blue muffler. “Thank you darling”. “phew…I could finish it just a minute ago. It took much longer than I anticipated. Try it now” He slowly adjusts it as he wraps it around his neck. “How do I look?” “Always handsome. Indeed, more and more every day.” She teased with her hand holding his chin and swaging it. Her voice was still soft and soothing to his ears and he could listen to her words thousand times over again. He had a surprise too. “open it” It was a blue colored wrapped square frame. Her eyes beamed with tears and her wrinkled face reflected on the frame showing her photo of her first date with him, her only lover.
They were both eighteen. His shy face and her funny pose made her miss those youthful days more. Even to these days, she was strong, always a beautiful soul to listen to his sorrows and dance over his happiness. What was his was equally hers. And what she wanted was exactly what he wished too. It was the coincidence of true fate and trust that blended them. Today was their golden jubilee of married life and it wasn’t like any other ordinary days. No celebrations of parties, no invitations. But they had it their own way. Reminding and being grateful for being the life’s best companion. Each unusual year had never been able to separate their thoughts. They had endured every bit of both the worst and the best days together with warm smiles across their faces without breaking their hopes for upcoming days. Time hadn’t flawed their hopes and places haven’t unchained their trust. They weren’t perfect but their sacrifices and understandings for each other was what made their days perfect.
The frost consumed most of the landscapes, damping the places filled with yellowish dried grasses. The dews evaporated with fumes as the intensity of the sun increased bringing warmth and hope to the living beings including ants and every other tiny living creature you name it. For some it was the perfect time for hibernation and for others to grow thick furs to protect themselves from the chilling winter. Plants and flowers withered yet some evergreens still lay untamed and undisturbed by the cold. Some situations tested us but some were blessings in disguise making us stronger.
All the fun! All the smiles! All the celebrations! Where are all these gone? Is this some kind of sorcery? Or a kind of curse inflicted upon the happy land? Does this resemble the aftermath of a war? The innocent farmers had been bereaved of their harvest. The mothers had been assigned with additional works to feed hungry mouths. The roads seemed less travelled and the shops less visited. The old prayer flags fluttered weakly. The sounds of the temple bells were fading. The usual howls and cries of the packs of stray dogs were becoming less frequent. Even the birds were flying off towards other side of the valley. Happiness had unfortunately faded into the thin air, spreading a melancholic shivers throughout the city.
“I will come back”. The husky voice still lingers in his mind. The promise was not kept for a sake, it was determined with a strong purpose. He slowly rocks his old dusty chair as he sips his hot coffee in the balcony. He had aged more than he should. It was the stress and the longings that kept him awake most of the nights. His intense gaze was focused to those peaks adorned with thick creamy ice unfolding its beautiful scenery as the sun slowly distributes its rays upon the ranges. He could still breathe strong and walk miles. That kept him mentally youthful. He feels a soft gentle pad on his shoulder. Before he could utter a word, he is handed over a beautiful new sky blue muffler. “Thank you darling”. “phew…I could finish it just a minute ago. It took much longer than I anticipated. Try it now” He slowly adjusts it as he wraps it around his neck. “How do I look?” “Always handsome. Indeed, more and more every day.” She teased with her hand holding his chin and swaging it. Her voice was still soft and soothing to his ears and he could listen to her words thousand times over again. He had a surprise too. “open it” It was a blue colored wrapped square frame. Her eyes beamed with tears and her wrinkled face reflected on the frame showing her photo of her first date with him, her only lover.
They were both eighteen. His shy face and her funny pose made her miss those youthful days more. Even to these days, she was strong, always a beautiful soul to listen to his sorrows and dance over his happiness. What was his was equally hers. And what she wanted was exactly what he wished too. It was the coincidence of true fate and trust that blended them. Today was their golden jubilee of married life and it wasn’t like any other ordinary days. No celebrations of parties, no invitations. But they had it their own way. Reminding and being grateful for being the life’s best companion. Each unusual year had never been able to separate their thoughts. They had endured every bit of both the worst and the best days together with warm smiles across their faces without breaking their hopes for upcoming days. Time hadn’t flawed their hopes and places haven’t unchained their trust. They weren’t perfect but their sacrifices and understandings for each other was what made their days perfect.
The frost consumed most of the landscapes, damping the places filled with yellowish dried grasses. The dews evaporated with fumes as the intensity of the sun increased bringing warmth and hope to the living beings including ants and every other tiny living creature you name it. For some it was the perfect time for hibernation and for others to grow thick furs to protect themselves from the chilling winter. Plants and flowers withered yet some evergreens still lay untamed and undisturbed by the cold. Some situations tested us but some were blessings in disguise making us stronger.
