Page 224 - Musings 2020

if the other had a problem, both of them would face it together. It was truly said that there is
no other love like the love for a brother, and there is no other love like the love of a brother.

Azaan had grown quite close to his new parents too. He felt that even though God had taken a
lot from his life, this new endeavour was also a blessing. He learnt that hope is on the
horizon, and one should never lose sight of it, no matter the events occurring in his or her life.
He found his mother Noor in the eyes of Sangeeta and the warm-heartedness of his father
Imtiaz in the arms of Rahul. Soon, he accepted them and let go of his past.

In the Autumn of the year 1977, thirty years after independence, everything had changed by a
tremendous amount. India was being ruled by the coalition between Indian National Congress
and the Muslim League. The name given to the coalition was ‘Samajwadi Alliance’. A total
of five hundred and sixty-five princely states and seventeen provinces were now solely
governed by this coalition.

This was the year that had brought many changes in Azaan’s and Shiv’s life too. The previous
years of their lives seemed like the calm before a storm. Azaan was now a doctor and Shiv
had joined the Indian Army. Their father had passed away six months ago and their mother
was in terrible condition. She claimed Rahul was sitting with her whenever her sons were not
at home. After his death, a huge part of her life was taken away from her, like a void created
in her heart, which could never be filled. Azaan and Shiv tried their best to make their mother
smile again. They were deeply hurt too, but they knew that they had to keep going, that they
had to support their mother because if they gave up, she would give up on life too. Azaan, for
many days, felt that it was due to him that their father died. He thought that he was the
unlucky part of the family before it was Noor and Imtiaz and now his father. The thick fog of
depression had surrounded him until Shiv made him realize that it was all a part of life. That
day, they took their mother out in the park near their house. As she stood among the lilies and
roses, barefoot in the dirt, she smiled. Many would have perceived it as an ordinary moment,
but as the tiny raindrop of the drizzling rain fell on her cheek, she closed her eyes, for she
knew that this moment had been waiting for her.

The very next day, Shiv had to go back to his regiment in Kashmir. Ever since the annulment
of partition, the backdrop of Kashmir had changed. It was a place that not only contained
diverse religions living in harmony but also the scenery could fill anyone’s heart with
amazement. It was the prime destination for vacation trips, honeymoons, school camps,
owing to its exemplary climate.

A few days passed, everything had gone back to normal again, until the end of autumn.
Azaan had to go to his clinic after making breakfast for his mother who was still asleep. It
was very unusual of her to sleep till so late. She was normally awake by five in the morning
but today it was nine o’clock, and she was still sounding asleep. With this unsettling thought
in mind, Azaan went to check up on her.

“Ma? Wake up, I am going off to the clinic, I have prepared you some breakfast!” he said in
a hurry.

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