To a bystander she looked the epitome of contentment and joy. Soft, white hair, stylishly cut and set, framing a beautiful round face, with deep brown eyes, a pert nose and a smiling warm mouth, watching a toddler running around and playing with others, her age.
The joy of watching her granddaughter reveling in her games, sparkled through. Sitting on a bench in the setting sunlight, illuminating everything in the park I golden orange hues, magically transforming the leaves on the trees into colourful lanterns gleaming yellow, orange, crimson, with the cool breeze tugging at everything it could: scarves, caps, clothes, hair, memories; she smiled.
Nothing could take her away from here. A daily ritual for both Grandma and granddaughter. Could anyone imagine she was the doyen of a multinational business empire in days gone by?
Her chauffer driven, luxurious car, pulled up into the porch. He was waiting for it. He yelled, “ Mom! Let’s go. I don’t want to be late for school.” Grabbing his school bag he jumped into the back seat as his mother came skipping down the steps, smartly dressed in a Stylish business suit and her high heeled Loubatins, belying the sharp business mind, who headed her business empire, extending beyond geographical boundaries. He loved his mom’s smell. A very subtle fragrance of roses. These rides to school were the best part of his day when he would tell his mom all about his friends, school and whatever he could remember. He understood she was a busy person, but she was his mother, who loved to be a part of his life. Rest assured she would always have his back.
Time has a bad habit of flying! When least expected it would stand still and weigh on people’s minds, hands, and whatever you had. He grew up to be a strong, confident man with a good sense of humour, graduating from Harvard. His mother was grooming him to take over. And one fine day the prince was crowned and she stepped down.
With a shudder she recalled the day, her son barely seven or eight at that time, had been bullied in the park and returned home badly bruised. She needed more counselling than the medication he needed. She pledged she would always be there, when her family needed her. She wouldn’t be around forever but as long as she was, she would.
After having worked hard for years together, she told her son, she wanted to just sit back and enjoy. Every day she treated as ‘Present’ and lived it to the fullest. Going for runs early in the morning in the parks nearby, (The New York Marathon one day certainly!). Dancing lessons in the afternoon and trying her hand at rustling up amazing dishes from round the world in the evenings, satiated her quench for learning and creating something!
Soon there were additions to the family. Her son chose to marry a loving , caring girl he had first met in college and along came their cherubic daughter. Definitely this was the best part of her life, surrounded by family in her comfortable home. Enriched, Loved and Content!
Enriched, Loved and Content ! The end is what each one of us as humans aspire, silently though. In the din and clamour of life’s vicissitudes somehow the three things get mingled at times singled and most of the time just tingled. So we wait, nevertheless unknowingly, sometimes yearning and seeing the sun glow as it sets.
Anamika, the Title : When is it the best has the depth few people can relate to. I for one would add another dimension to it. The Dusk. Indeed the Sun is best at DUSK; glowing, calm, colourful and short enough not to be too attached. That in essence is my take on your story. ” The Fall ” with its rich crimson colour comes after many seasons of Green. Yet, it is The ‘Fall Winter’ that calms the mind more than the verdant, sprightly and youthful Green!
Surely, you have answered the question of the Title – When is it the best? Well, it is NOW! NOW! NOW!