The hustle and bustle of the city had started again. The cars roared, the buses zoomed, and the two wheelers vroomed, making up for the lost time. The months lost in abstinence during the Pandemic and the Lockdown. People were so thrilled to be let out of the four walls of their homes once again, they pranced around like monkeys released in the wild and chattered as much, endlessly! Who doesn’t like freedom?
He regretted the peace and quiet that was lost. It took him weeks to get used to being locked in, within the four walls of his expensive, elite, and exclusive home, but slowly he started counting his blessings. He would never admit it, but watching his wife going about her hectic routine, had helped. Working from home, and working at home had definitely been demanding, but she did it with her natural grace.
Time lost in commute, time lost in meaningless negotiations, time lost in polite conversations, was suddenly gained. And as with his beautiful home, he saw his wife and children up close, for the first time. He got time – to play scrabble, listen to music, watch movies, and mess up the living room together. Just as they were resigned to the new norm, lost in their own world, things were shaken up and ‘Unlock’ happened! That’s where this story begins.
Earning a living was a must but living a life with all its flavours was imperative. Watching the city on a warm Saturday afternoon it got into his head, that he needed to get away. For a short while, but he just had to. With his family!
Without wasting any time, Rajan booked the flights and the air b-n-b, and it was done! As he was driving back home that evening, speculating the look on the face of his wife, his daughter and son, he couldn’t stop chuckling! Soon he found himself guffawing, loudly! Ah, he would capture their looks on his phone, he would put on a big sad, sorry face and tell them the whole detailed plan. Looking at him they would be perplexed, till the words would sink in and their hearts would reverberate with joy. And he would start laughing with them!
He had always been engrossed in his work. Never one to displease his boss, he prided himself on being a workaholic. There was no time for family or friends or any hobbies. He had his nose to the grind 24 x7! But isn’t that what everyone did? In fact even on his honeymoon, he was attending conference calls and instructing his secretary. A frown permanently hovered on his forehead, wrinkling it along with the sacred Ash lines he applied every morning. At the office they laid wages on whether the wrinkles came first or the sacred lines of ash!
Thinking about their reactions he was sure he would start laughing with them! His wife would definitely punch him affectionately, which couldn’t hurt a fly as tears would roll down her eyes! The thought of it sent him into a fresh round of unbridled laughter. The peals echoed through the plush seats of his BMW, amazing them with this unusual merry sound.
There was a bright flash in the oncoming lane, as a speeding truck hurtled on. He was still laughing, tears rolling down his cheeks, when the truck kissed the BMW.
They found him with a smile adorning his wet cheeks. Lost to this world forever.
