“The world was coming to an end. A fatal asteroid was fast heading towards the earth and in exactly one year, earth will be finished.”
The news went viral. But Purnima couldn’t care less. Her family was crumbling. Her husband was leaving her, out of the blue. She wished the asteroid hit her sooner. She fell asleep out of sheer exhaustion.
“Mom, please have dinner. You haven’t eaten anything since morning.” pleaded Ram, her son.
She looked at her son and wordlessly ate her food when he said timidly, “Mom..”
“Not now Ram.” She said tiredly.
Ran held his mother’s hand, “Mom, you knew this was coming, then why are you so upset now? You and Dad have been living under one roof but you haven’t talked to each other properly for the past three years. You knew he was having an affair but you two have been dragging this relationship till now. It is better that you sign the divorce papers. You both will be free from this forced relationship. Let him live his life and you enjoy yours now.”
“But now it is just a matter of one year. I don’t want to die with the tag of a divorcee.”
“Mom, consider this paper as an agreement for your freedom. You have paid a great price for everything. Let this year be yours, your dreams, your bucket list where you don’t have to take permission from anyone else or sacrifice it for any other reason.”
Purnima was stunned. Her boy spilled such words of wisdom, so easily. He who had just joined college had already transformed into a mature adult.
“And are you coming with me?” she asked.
“No Mom. I am going back to my college till they shut it down. IIT has always been my dream. I will learn and explore till college continues and then I will join you in your new home. In a month, your exams are scheduled. Just two papers of CA are remaining. Give that. And then you can chalk out the next plan.”
The divorce came through. It took her some time to adjust to her new home but soon she started enjoying her own company. Her full time went into studies and finally, she fulfilled her biggest dream to see CA suffixed to her name. She got a job immediately due to many vacancies and the second dream of her to earn also came true. The new financial independence gave a new meaning to her life. She kept a part of her salary for personal use and the remaining she packed in one envelope. She picked up colours again and started filling the empty canvases with bright colours. Soon her son joined her as colleges were shut down because of the impending doom.
“Mom! You look beautiful!”
Ram complemented Purnima as he hugged her. She blushed. After ages someone had said something about her beauty.
“Mom!”
Her reverie was broken.
“Come! Let’s have dinner. I have made your favourite Lasagna.”
Her son’s arrival brought a fresh fragrance in her life. His unending conversations, first crush, college talks, would never come to an end. They started going for movies and mother-son dates.
Time was quickly passing by. She had sold all her gold which she had been saving for her son’s marriage. She kept that amount too in the envelope.
One day Ram came across the envelope in his mother’s cupboard. He was quite surprised why her Mom had kept such a huge amount aside.
“Mom ! Are you keeping this amount aside for a special reason?”
“Ram, your father always made me feel that I am the biggest liability to him. I used to feel like a beggar when I used to ask him for money for the household and personal expenses. Tomorrow, I will send him the envelope, thus repaying any amount he has incurred on me. I don’t want to leave this Earth with any debts on me.”
Ram looked at his mother. In the past few months, her mother had changed a lot. From a shy, demure , dependant woman to a fearless, independent one, he was loving that transition.
Only a month was left now.
Purnima had left her job. She wanted to spend her last days at Trivandrum where she and Deepak had got married. Her twenty-fifth anniversary and the death date were coincidentally the same. Though he had given her so much pain in the past few years, he had given her happiness too and the biggest gift was her son.
Last day…the mother-son duo were having coffee at a cafe.
“Purnima..Ram..”
They turned around. They were shocked to see Deepak there. He was looking distraught. His face said it all. He was crawling back.
“Purnima, I am sorry for what I did. I realised your importance after you left but it was too late. Few days before, I received this envelope and your letter. Though I can’t return you all these years , I want to spend my last day with you and our son. I want to relive our memories, our happiness, and our love. I want to apologise for all the pain I caused you and seek your forgiveness.
She sighed, “Deepak,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I forgave you a long time ago. But I have now moved on. I value and jealously guard my happiness and self-dignity…”
Deepak nodded, tears streaming down his face,” I do not deserve you, but please let us leave this world together….”
The three of them spent the rest of the day together. They watched the sunset together, holding hands, and cherishing every moment they had left.
As the clock struck midnight, Purnima looked up at the threatening sky, but she didn’t feel scared or sad.
As the world around them ended, Purnima, Deepak, and Ram held each other tight, grateful for the time they had together, and at peace with the love they shared.
