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A bond - purest of all.
It was a hot summer afternoon,the sun shone bright and the air was dry. Aunt Jane was busy kneading sweater for Uncle Thomas under the banyan tree that provided her partial protection from the mid-day sunlight. Her pale face , grey hair , wrinkled skin and shivering hands witnessed her old age.
"Hurry , or she'll catch us" whispered the kids who sneaked in to pick the unripe mangoes from her garden.
"She's old and I've heard that people lose their sight in old age" said another .
"BUT NOT THEIR HEARING POWER I GUESS" yelled aunt Jane " NOW GET LOST BEFORE I GET THERE AND SNATCH ALL YOUR MANGOES"
After a few hours , the sun dipped below the horizon and the fleeting colours of dusk began to fade away, Aunt called it a day and went inside. She went to check on Uncle Thomas who was lying on the bed as usual. Uncle Thomas had been bedridden for the last two years.
"what were you doing out there in the sunlight?" he asked aunt Jane . In his voice, one could easily feel the pain that he had been suffering all these years.
"preparing your birthday present " she replied.
" birthday, yes perhaps the last ever birthday . " he exclaimed with a sense of relax .
"don't you dare die on your birthday you oldie' she laughed and tears rolled down her eyes.
Later that night when uncle Thomas fell asleep , she tried reccollecting all their memories from the past years .She remembered how they used to play together as kids , bully each other during their early years and how uncle Thomas used to tickle and tease her when they were young .Emotions got her and she sobbed as uncle Thomas said "I haven't died yet!!"
The most awaited month of the year finally arrived. It was October, uncle Thomas 's birth month . Aunt Jane grew more excited than ever before and wanted it to be perfect as she knew this might be her last chance to prepare a birthday feast for her beloved husband and also her last opportunity to make him laugh just like older times.
She finished kneading the sweater and was happy to see how it turned out . It was not dull like most of the old people prefer but a colourful one as she wished to thank uncle Thomas for all the adding colours to her life , colours she didn't know even existed.
The night before his birthday, Uncle Thomas 's health degraded ,he had difficulty breathing and refused to eat or take any medications . Aunt Jane called in a doctor and after a few hours of treatment he reluctantly said " age has taken it's toll!" . And with that she lost her senses and wept inconsolably .
" Its 12 , won't you sing me happy birthday? "said uncle Thomas and with a breaking voice aunt sang "happy birthday to you , happy birthday dear Thomas, happy birthday to you" and put him to sleep.
Three days later , she opened the box and put on the sweater . She sobbed over losing her best friend , her family , her husband. The door creaked and a voice said " Hey Aunt Jane see I brought you some mangoes!"
© barsha
"Hurry , or she'll catch us" whispered the kids who sneaked in to pick the unripe mangoes from her garden.
"She's old and I've heard that people lose their sight in old age" said another .
"BUT NOT THEIR HEARING POWER I GUESS" yelled aunt Jane " NOW GET LOST BEFORE I GET THERE AND SNATCH ALL YOUR MANGOES"
After a few hours , the sun dipped below the horizon and the fleeting colours of dusk began to fade away, Aunt called it a day and went inside. She went to check on Uncle Thomas who was lying on the bed as usual. Uncle Thomas had been bedridden for the last two years.
"what were you doing out there in the sunlight?" he asked aunt Jane . In his voice, one could easily feel the pain that he had been suffering all these years.
"preparing your birthday present " she replied.
" birthday, yes perhaps the last ever birthday . " he exclaimed with a sense of relax .
"don't you dare die on your birthday you oldie' she laughed and tears rolled down her eyes.
Later that night when uncle Thomas fell asleep , she tried reccollecting all their memories from the past years .She remembered how they used to play together as kids , bully each other during their early years and how uncle Thomas used to tickle and tease her when they were young .Emotions got her and she sobbed as uncle Thomas said "I haven't died yet!!"
The most awaited month of the year finally arrived. It was October, uncle Thomas 's birth month . Aunt Jane grew more excited than ever before and wanted it to be perfect as she knew this might be her last chance to prepare a birthday feast for her beloved husband and also her last opportunity to make him laugh just like older times.
She finished kneading the sweater and was happy to see how it turned out . It was not dull like most of the old people prefer but a colourful one as she wished to thank uncle Thomas for all the adding colours to her life , colours she didn't know even existed.
The night before his birthday, Uncle Thomas 's health degraded ,he had difficulty breathing and refused to eat or take any medications . Aunt Jane called in a doctor and after a few hours of treatment he reluctantly said " age has taken it's toll!" . And with that she lost her senses and wept inconsolably .
" Its 12 , won't you sing me happy birthday? "said uncle Thomas and with a breaking voice aunt sang "happy birthday to you , happy birthday dear Thomas, happy birthday to you" and put him to sleep.
Three days later , she opened the box and put on the sweater . She sobbed over losing her best friend , her family , her husband. The door creaked and a voice said " Hey Aunt Jane see I brought you some mangoes!"
© barsha
