The first sunshine after the rain .................


It seemed to be just another ordinary day for Shantilata. Despite the fact that she had lot many hurdles in the past few months , but the regular occurrences of these events somehow made her accustomed to it.
Emotions of pain or feelings of suffering no longer had an effect on her. For that matter neither did moments of joy y and happiness hold any significance. No I don't mean to say that she was born immune and indifferent to these feelings or emotions, but somehow life had played it hard on her and she had submitted herself to it in the most complacent manner anyone could ever have.
I remember meeting her for a cup of coffee a week after her son went missing at the war front. The news of having lost her only son and family had wiped all the traces of happiness from her life.
I don't really recall seeing her cry on the loss of her son...really don't know whether it was a case of extreme shock for her or whether deep down in her heart was buried still a strong rooted ray of hope.
She was just sitting outside gazing at the rays of sunlight falling on the water puddles that were created for the past few days of heavy rain shower, when she was startled by the sound of the door bell.
It was not that she heard her door bell ring quite frequently . In fact she had quite forgotten the sound of it. She ignored the sound of it and continued gazing at the sunlight. She thought that she was hearing things due to old age, when the door bell rang again. This time it was a long persistent ring , and there was no doubt that there was someone at the door .
She slowly got up with the support of the wall and limped towards the door.
She took almost 10 minutes to reach the door on her feeble legs . The door bell rang again for the third time , by the time she reached the door .
She reached out for the latch with trembling fingers and slide it open gently .
As soon as she looked out she burst into a welma tears and clung to the person standing on the door. For it was no one else but her long lost son returned from the war front......
The sun finally shone bright in Shantilatas' life and she welcomed it even more after the gloomy days of non-stop rains