Wish, It was True!

It was just another ordinary working day, when I was stuck to my chair, with no other thought than the critical programming running inside my head. At least, that’s what I thought until that afternoon when I stepped out for a bit of fresh air.

It would have been easy for me to ignore the girl who was coming opposite to me in the stairs, considering the state of my mind - pre-occupied with the programming intricacies. However, the depth of sorrow infused in her eyes were so piercing that it just struck me hard and her hurried steps made me feel that she was rushing to avoid any eye contact from anyone.

Her name was Geetha and she sits in an adjacent cubicle of mine. The occasional interactions I have had so far with her, always had left me with an impression of her being a simple, quiet and naïve sort of person.

As I quickly finished my tea and hurried back, I kept wondering, “what disturbing thought might she be battling with”. As I was reaching near my seat, I peeped to check if she was back in her cubicle already and I could see her talking in phone quite animatedly, with tears rolling down her eyes ; unmistakably hinting at some serious issue.

Hoping whatever it may be, she will settle down soon, I plunged back into the jungle of code and was engrossed for at least an hour, since getting back to my cubicle. Suddenly, I noticed that she was hurrying towards the washroom direction and feeling something is not right, I felt an urge to go talk to her somehow.

Quickly, I completed my status email to my manager and rushed in her direction. I found her in the washroom washing her face frantically, and to her surprise, I went and softly touched her shoulder. When she turned back trying hard to put a false smile without any purpose, I directly enquired if anything is wrong; half hoping that she would not deny that, leaving no room for my provoking further. After a little pause, to my surprise she all of a sudden broke out sobbing hard and I hugged her to calm her shivering self. I was just repeating to her that everything will be fine and not to worry and be strong. When she seemed to be settling down, I asked her to wash face again, and with no words exchanged, we took a little stroll outside the office premises, with my hand firmly gripping hers. When returned, she seemed to look better than before and gave me that innocent smile that I wanted to see again on her face. I just patted her and returned back to my seat, feeling better myself.

It was when I was about to leave the office, wrapping up the pending works, that I noticed an unread mail without any subject line in my inbox, from Geetha. I quickly clicked the mail open and this is how it read.

"Hi,

If not for the silent moments spent with you, you may have not seen me in this world again. In front of the agony I was passing through, life seemed to have lost its gleam for a while.

You gave me strength, when I most needed that. Holding your hands, I literally stepped out of the darkness around me.

Thank you for being my light.

Geetha "

I sat trembling with popped out eyes, trying to digest what she was hinting at. Tears trickled down and I felt a sense of peace filling within.

A sudden jolt and I sat upright, sweating profusely. As reality started sinking in, the sense of peace I was feeling a moment earlier was completely replaced with a choking heaviness in heart.

I wish, what I just saw was true… I wish, I had known that she was under some terrible stress and had really taken the walk with her… I wish, she had got strength from someone… I wish, she could open up with someone close… I wish, she had thought about her dear family and parents who loved her dearly… I wish, she had not quit …

I wish, I was not on my way to the Hospital with her teammates now, to bid final Good Bye to her mortal self.

I wish…. I wish….

Written on - 26 October, 2015

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This short story is close to my heart for two reasons. One being the fact that this story is inspired from a real incident that happened to my old teammate Geetha who was found dead in a railway track, where she had no evident reason to go. No one knows still, what really happened to her and why. And my mind used to spin so many possibilities within my mind, to reason it out. 

Years later, when we organized a Short Story Contest as part of our account's Impromptu Club; I strongly felt like writing about her. 

I dedicate the First prize that I won for this short-story to Geetha and pray for her soul to rest in peace.