We reached the area, and emotions took over again.
I wanted to see her house, or at least the building she lived in.
Through narrow lanes, I reached a spot where I could see her balcony, the little window she used to peek from. I remembered everything — the first day I went to her house, the conversations, the way she blushed, the way she waved goodbye. Every detail came flooding back while I sat in the car, tears still rolling down.
Then I headed towards my real destination ; the temple.
The roads were crowded, full of people, chaos, and traffic; unusual for such a peaceful place. I kept wondering why. Then I realized it was Ashadhi Ekadashi.
As I followed Google Maps, it led me into an unpaved kaccha road. Realizing it was wrong, I turned around, and that’s when I saw three old grandmothers standing under a little shed, shielding themselves from the heavy rain.
I stopped to ask for directions, which they gave sweetly. As I was about to drive off, something inside me made me reverse and ask, “Where are you heading?”
They said, “Aaj Ashadhi Ekadashi hai, we’re going to the same temple.”
I don’t know why, but something lit up inside me. It felt like the universe had planned this. I offered them a ride and dropped them at the gate. Before getting down, the last ajji looked at me and said,
“May your wish come true, whatever you came here for.”
And that’s when I paused.
Why was I here?
What was my wish?
To forget her? To get her back?
I didn’t know.
I stepped out of the car, didn’t care about the rain, and walked to the riverbank. The river flowed fiercely, and my thoughts flowed even faster. I took a pause, looked up, and cried my heart out.
It might sound like a movie scene, but it was real.
I bowed down to the river, took a long walk, and started heading back. Replaying every memory, every moment, and somewhere in between, I think I got my answer.
Maybe I did.
Maybe I didn’t.
But if anyone ever reads this, tell me,
what do you think my perfect wish should have been?
