The sound of the alarm shattered the silence of the quiet morning. Uma's eyes fluttered open. Without hesitation and a moment's delay, she reached for her phone and dialed his number. Mon answered promptly, his voice laced with concern. "Is everything okay?" he asked. Uma's words were swift and urgent, "Mon, you must wake up now, or we'll be late." His groggy acknowledgment came through a mere "Hmm." He instructed her, "I'll call you when I'm close to your place. Come downstairs, then." In the meantime, he urged her to prepare herself. Uma agreed and ended the call.
Their routine had become into a comforting ritual: Uma always drove him to the airport whenever he had to travel for work from Kolkata. It was an unwavering act, a constant in their lives. Today was no exception. "Why wouldn't it be?" Uma thought. After all, he only visited once or twice a month for a couple of days. Uma's heart swelled with anticipation throughout the entire month, eagerly counting days waiting for his arrival. This time, however, their reunion was tinged with a hint of sadness as Mon revealed that his next visit would be delayed due to a new project and significant workload. His recent visits had been more frequent lately - twice in fifteen days - especially since Uma had been unwell.
This particular visit had been especially precious, providing them with cherished and joyful moments after enduring many ups and downs in their relationship. It brought them closer, mending the fractures caused by past turmoil.
Finally ready, Uma looked at herself in the mirror, noticing a radiant glow that had been absent for months. Her phone rang; it was Mon, asking if she was ready as he waited for her downstairs. She descended to find him in the car, clad in his usual business attire that she secretly adored but never mentioned. The driver set off towards the airport.
During the drive, their glances spoke volumes - silent exchanges of longing, reassurance, and memories. The road stretched ahead, mirroring the distance they had traveled together.
Upon reaching the airport, Mon retrieved his ticket, the paper crisp in his hand. But then he paused as if caught in an invisible web of uncertainty. His eyes met Uma's, and he declared, "I don't want to go. I'm not leaving you alone this time... Let's go home." Uma stood there, astonished by his sudden change of heart. In an unexpected move, Mon pulled her into a tight embrace - a gesture he usually avoided as he disliked public displays of affection. Yet there he was, proclaiming his desire to stay with her regardless of the onlookers' gazes at the airport.
Uma blushed with shyness as they shared a profound moment of love amidst the bustling airport. She was torn between love and practicality. She reminded Mon of his sacrifices, the compromises he had made to reach this position. She didn't want to hinder his success. Mon, equally stubborn, strongly urged her to let him stay with her. Despite their reluctance and numerous discussions about his departure, time was ticking away. The final boarding call echoed through the airport.
With a heavy heart but firm resolve, Uma convinced Mon to leave. She urged him to proceed with his journey, promising to wait for his return.
Reluctantly, as Mon made his way towards the departure gate, he looked back repeatedly at Uma, who stood motionless, watching him until he vanished into the crowd - just as she always did.
He departed. A year passed... The phone rang...
