Lonely Heart

The shutting of a shelf door was resonating in the kitchen. The residents are still asleep except for one. Twisting the tea holder open, she took a spoon full of the aromatic, dried tea leaves. Chai. The morning fuel for her. After pouring the spoonful into the bubbling milk, the color changed to a soft caramel color.

Holding her waist-long brown hair adorned with golden hues in her hand, she twisted them to a low messy bun, missing those traitorous trails that kissed her cheeks. Grabbing a cup, she poured the chai, with a hint of a smile.

Fixing her crimson chiffon dupatta across her shoulders, her light footsteps fell on glazed ivory-golden marble tiles. Her silver anklets made their soft jingling music as if flirting with the Haveli's summer stillness. The morning sun was rising, and the birds were chirping as they flew high in the sky to reach the soft cottons. A deep sigh escaped her as her feet touched the lush green. Sitting on the steps, her hazel eyes awaited the glimpse of the rising sun. Bringing the cup close to her, she took a sip. The warm liquid resembling the season sparkled her mind, body, and heart.

"A little warmth is good"

Her insides warmed with the familiar voice. A voice she cherished and longed for equally. It’s been a while since Rabail heard him. A while since she understood what longing stood for. A while since loneliness crept to her heart.

She held her almond-shaped eyes still on the bright blue sky which was missing its blazing sun. A vivid resemblance of her heart, she thought as her lips tug up to mock her. People say "If your mind is filled with good thoughts, then surely your day will be equally rewarding". Shaking those melancholic thoughts and smiles, she took a further sip to give some warmth to her crispy heart.

She stood up after witnessing the rising sun, with a finished cup, a clear mind, and an abandoned heart. It's become a habit for her. A cup of chai, her on the lawn, and the dawn of a new day. A routine she devised just for that one person. That lone soul who preferred the sun to sleep. A soft laugh escaped her lips as she remembered that time, and her hazel eyes studded with saline tears. For her, everything revolved around that person in some way.

Climbing the steps, she opened the brass doors to the Haveli. Nothing has changed in the enormous Haveli. Taking her feet along the hallway, the soft smell of pink hydrangea welcomed her. Hydrangea was always there. Her favorite and he made sure of it. One of the promises he kept, while the crucial one was long forgotten and flouted. A warm feeling erupted in her. Nothing changed, yet nothing was the same as well.

Confusing, right? Well, that is the thing in Rabail's life. It had failed Rabail Noor numerous times, yet she still stood to oppose changes. She clutched, hard till her knuckles turned white, those tangible and intangible elements to sustain her world in which she lived and dreamt about. However, we, humans, forget the cruel reality of the dreams splintering and the mantra of God's green Earth- "Change is constant".

Holding onto is what keeps us back from embracing the future and peace. Peace drowns your mind and entire being, assuring you that you will be able to fight your demons. The reason for holding on is rather simple: we are afraid that something—anything—will not happen to us again. Simply abandoning you at a fork in the road where you don't know whether to proceed or to come to a halt and let life happen on its own. Yet, we fallible beings ignore the very message of life that Almighty bestowed upon us—sometimes you need to turn a page of the book of life, no matter how much it matters to you or even breaks you. Because a single page is only a portion of a book, cherish it in your memory, but don't let it be the thought that binds you to it. You must write, feel, fight, laugh, and, most importantly, live the rest of the way.

As the sun witnessed her fading back, it smiled its rays to every corner. Spreading its hopes that a change comes to Rabail and stays for Rabail.