A man who didn't check the time or wait for a train sat on the last bench in the train station. Memories planted thorns with each step in the dense forest that existed in his eyes. Although he went by Salman, his heart belonged to Maheen. The only word that remained after Maheen's departure two years ago was "Trust." "There is no relationship at all if you cannot trust me," she had stated. Salman, who always preferred to live in silence over speech, remained silent. His love was demonstrated by his silence, but silence is never taken as evidence.

?When the reality of his loss finally set in, months later, Salman started going to all the stations where they had first met. Trust was what he sought. Maheen's eyes once shone with the same trust. Salman got an old letter from Maheen's friend one winter evening. "Your silence broke my heart, Salman," it said. However, I've always known you were faithful. You couldn't trust me. You might find it at my grave now. An address was included with the letter: Row 17, Grave 9, Cemetery of Silence Since then, Salman goes there every week. He spends hours sitting by her grave without saying a word. Since he now comprehends something he has never done before, silence too takes loans. And one day, it comes back to collect.

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?Azhar Azad

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