From the other side...

It was a long drive. My taxi, free of the airport congestion, hit the highway and picked up speed. Buildings whizzed by as I settled into the back seat and looked out of the window.
It was exactly one year ago, when I had received the first text.

"I need you, can you come...... "

Over the last year, she had texted regularly and I soaked in her pain and her sorrow. I tried to cheer her up with stupid jokes and inspirational quotes. It took me an year to realize, she wasn't going to recover from the abyss I had found her in. Not without help. And here I was. It had taken me an year to overcome my own inhibitions. But I had come.

As the taxi pulled up outside her house, I looked up at the door. The last time she had seen me off, she looked sad, on the verge of saying something, but not finding the words to say it. It was 7 years ago, but seems like yesterday.

I need a cab later, to go to my hotel. I said to the taxi driver. 
I will wait if you dont take long, he replied.

Glad that the getaway part was sorted, I inhaled deeply and walked towards the door. I rang the bell and braced myself for the first sight of her after 7 long years. Would she be still as beautiful or had the age and pain scarred her.

The door opened and standing in front of me, was a man I had begun to loathe. Dressed in a vest with ketchup marks, a filthy jockey, unkempt hair, and white stubble on his chin. How could a Goddess like her stay married to this creep. I tried to appear civil and exchanged formal pleasantries. He held the door open as I walked in. The place was a mess. Empty beer bottles, overflowing ashtray, half eaten pizza.....looked more like a bachelor's pad.

I settled down on whatever little place I could find on the sofa. He just crumbled into one opposite to me.
So what do you want?? He was straight to the point.
Nothing much, I said, I had some work in the city, so dropped in to say Hello.
He shook his head in a manner, that said, Whatever.

I wanted to get this over with fast and without a fuss. Will he create a scene?? He is too drunk to put up a fight. I was exploring my options and then went for it.
What a mess, you have here. The lady is not keeping your house clean.

He gave a nonchalant look around, sank deeper into the sofa and said, she comes in once a week.

Once a week ?? I am sorry, what's that supposed to mean.

She comes in once a week, the maid. By the time, he laboured to the end of the sentence, his exasperation was becoming evident. I was an intrusion he was barely tolerating.

What about your wife. She is not the type to tolerate such filth in her living room.
Did she walk out on you ?? I chuckled.

Yeah, Kinda. He said, leaned back and closed his eyes.

Kinda !!! Walked out !!! I had to summon all my strength to prevent my face from betraying my relief. This is going to be easy. She has already walked out. He doesn't factor into my plans anymore. I needed to get out fast.

I feigned concern and asked, I am sorry, but when did this happen ??

About, a year ago. He mumbled.

A year ago, a year ago.....the pieces fell into place as my brain processed this new information. That's when she reached out to me.

Where is she now ?? I pushed my luck.

220 Everglades, .....I didnt hear the rest of his answer. My feet were already moving. I was making it too obvious, but just didnt care what he made out of it. The loser that he was.

I sprinted to my taxi. Everglades, I said even before I closed the door.

Why didnt she tell me? It would have been easier. I could have come earlier.
Want to buy some flowers? the taxi driver asked.
Flowers ??? Was I thinking aloud? How did the taxi driver know, I was going to meet her. Oh, I am just being paranoid.
No, I dismissed him.

The taxi pulled up outside a massive wrought iron gate. The kind of you see in mansions in black and white Alfred Hitchcock movies. The sign in Iron welded intricately into the gate said, EVERGLADES.

I paid the taxi driver off, collected my bag and walked towards the gate. There was no guard around. I pushed at the gate, and it opened up easily, albeit with a eerie creaking sound.  I walked in, the path was marbled, with  flowers of every hue and huge pine trees on both sides.

Hmm rich place. Instead of taking her home, I should move in with her.
I laughed at my own lame joke.

As I came into a clearing at the end of the path, my heart sank. There were no massive mansions around. The bastard had given me a wrong address. He must have known, I was coming for her. My blood boiled in rage as I looked around at the neat rows of graves. He had sent me to a cemetery, the Jerk. For what, For a moment of solace, for delaying the inevitable. I was taking her home, no matter what.

I walked back towards the massive gates, hoping the taxi would be still there. 220 Everglades.....he had me fooled there, my ego took it hard........220 Everglades..........220........220.
Why did he mention that.

I stopped.

I walked back towards the graves. They were marked with names, dates, tearful adieu, epitaphs and a small number like a footnote on every tombstone. I walked between the neat rows.

53......107....200....217,  218, 219, ...220.

Neatly calligraphed into the stone was a name

PRERNA

Numbed by a massive shock wave travelling up the spine, making every hair follicle stand up on the end. I just stood there, rooted.

A year back........walked out.....kinda....

But the texts....she texted....

The requiem of my thoughts is broken as my cell phone beeps, jolting me.

I looked at the screen. It read

I missed you, glad you came.........