Everything seemed perfect. Their new home. Their well settled life. And the candle light dinner Tara had arranged. She looked at the table fondly. I'm sure Aakash will love it.. it will be a sweet little surprise for him. But where is he? Then she smiled. Aakash had a habit of teasing her. He would say that he’ll be late and suddenly appear at the door-step. He’ll be here any minute.. giving ME a surprise! She looked at herself in their full length mirror. She had decided to be home early & dressed up in a violet coloured halter neck, knee length evening dress. She had left her hair loose & the only piece of jewellery she adorned was a pair of silver & diamond slim earrings. And her wedding ring of course. Their first wedding anniversary had passed just 4 days ago; but since Aakash was out on a business trip, they weren’t able to celebrate on that day. And Tara planned the celebration today. Just the two of them.

The phone rang. She almost ran to pick it up.

‘Hello? Hello, Tara? This is Rakesh here.. Aakash’s collegue..’, he sounded nervous. Tara felt some sort of an alarm. Is everything ok?

‘Yes, Rakesh???? What happened??, she answered loudly. There was lot of noise in the background.

‘Tara… I got a call from Aakash’s cellphone. Someone else was talking through it. They said Aakash has met with an accident & is being taken to hospital.. M G Hospital…’

Tara didn’t hear what he said later. The phone just dropped from her hand. M G Hospital was on the other side of the city. She rushed to the bedroom & took the jacket lying on the chair. She hurriedly locked the door & wore whatever sandals she saw.

The journey to the hospital seemed endless. All kinds of thoughts crossed her mind. She forced herself to believe that a miracle would happen. She then remembered to call on Aakash’s cellphone and talk to the person holding it.

‘Sister, it seems a bus was overtaking his car; but a jeep was coming from the opposite with no lights on. So the bus turned left sharply… ..’

Right into my Aakash's car... Tara was overwhelmed with emotions.. of sympathy.. for her husband... With no fault of his... look what happened to him... She panicked and her eyes were full of tears. Her throat ached badly..

She threw money on the seat of taxi and rushed into the hospital. Hospitals always scared her. She was crying uncontrollably when she asked the reception about Aakash. The attendant had difficulty in understanding what she was trying to say. Finally she got to the floor & saw Rakesh with another collegue. They looked subdued.

‘Come, Tara..’, he said.

‘Where?? I want to see Aakash.. How is he.. where is he.. I don’t want to go anywhere..’, she was frightened. She felt lonely.

They escorted her to Doctor’s cabin.

‘I'm sorry Ms. Tara. We couldn’t save her husband. His rib cage was badly damaged. His right side totally crushed….’, the doctor said quietly.

Tara heard in shock. She then buried her face in her hands and cried till it hurt.

None of the people around her disturbed her.

‘Take me to Aakash’, she managed to say.

She stood at the room entrance, where Aakash lay. She couldn’t move a step ahead. She walked to his bed slowly and sat on the bedside chair. She put her arms around his neck and cried.

‘Kya taare kabhi aakash se juda ho sakte hai??. Taaro ki jagah Aakash mein hai; aakash ke dil mein.. (Can the stars ever be away from the sky?? Stars’ place is in the sky.. in sky’s heart..’, Aakash would say if ever he was away from her or she felt lonely and scared.

I am lonely now, Aakash. Come back. Why did you go away without telling me anything. What will I do now. I am incomplete without you. My life is nothing without you.

She stayed there whole night. And didn’t sleep for a second. In that whole night, she lived the past 1 year again. From the time he and his family came to see her till this day. Aakash had transformed Tara from a girl to a woman. Tara was immature & timid. Aakash gave her strength & wisdom by his maturity & confidence. I can’t fight the battle of my life alone. I need you. ‘Of course, you can. Is this what I have taught you? No. You are my brave girl. You can do it’, Aakash would have said. Tara’s tears flowed just more at this thought.

I don’t want to live a life without you, Aakash. I am coming to you..