SHORT STORY BY WILLIAMSJI MAVELI " WHISPERS "

As Renuka descended from the narrow staircase, her heart raced at the sight of Ravi standing by the riverbank, lost in thought. For a brief moment, time seemed to pause, and she remained transfixed, drinking in the familiar contours of his face. Gathering her courage, she walked over slowly, positioning herself beside him. At that instant, Ravi turned his head slightly, glancing down at her, the silence between them laden with unspoken memories.
Renuka's gaze drifted from his eyes to the river, where children splashed in the shallow waters, laughter echoing in the air. "How quickly everything has changed," she marveled, her voice barely above a whisper.

"It’s been four years since we last parted, without even a word of goodbye," Ravi replied with a wistful smile, his tone carrying a hint of nostalgia.

A shadow crossed Renuka's face as she glared at the river, which appeared altered since their last encounter. "Back then, it was just a reflection of the river; now it seems to have lost its flow." The ache in her voice did not go unnoticed.

"Change is an inevitable part of life, isn't it?" Ravi maintained, his voice steady yet gentle.

A sudden gust of wind caught Renuka’s saree, lifting the hem and revealing her bare ankle momentarily. Flustered, she adjusted it quickly, a faint blush creeping across her cheeks. "Are you happy, Ravi?" she asked, her eyes searching his.

"Happy..." he echoed, and for a brief moment, his smile faltered.

A comfortable silence nestled between them once more, filled with the weight of their shared past. "How is Sujata and the little one?" she inquired softly.

Ravi chuckled, a warmth spreading through him at the mention of his family. "Sujata sometimes complains, missing my calls. She often asks if I still think about you. But she is happy, very happy. She's secured a job, managing well on her own, and she’s grown immensely stronger. Every time she prepares to step out and follow her dreams, I hear your encouragement in my head."

Renuka's pulse quickened as she hung onto his every word. "I often feel the urge to see Sujata and the baby. But then I think – will it lead me back to many things I left behind?"

Ravi's gaze deepened as he looked into her eyes, searching for an answer. Renuka held her breath, navigating the depths of silence that lay heavy upon them.

"Why did you leave, without a word?" he finally asked, his voice steady but laced with curiosity.

Renuka remained still, lost in thought. "It wasn’t for a lack of reason. I wished to know why after all this time, I still find myself drawn back to this riverbank."

"Did you ever take the time to seek the reason?" he asked gently.

"I haven't," she confessed, the vulnerability evident in her voice. “I think of our evening walks, the riverbank conversations, the tea breaks—and sometimes I wonder, do any one of those hold the key to my thoughts today? I never pondered if they could be reasons at all." She fidgeted with the fabric of her saree, staring down at it.

Ravi tilted his head at her, his eyes locking onto hers. "Then why meet today, after all this time?"

"Because it felt like the right thing to do...I had to come," she responded, a hint of desperation in her voice.
       
He let out a deep sigh. “I’ve returned to this riverbank many times, recalling the rainfall, the whispers in the wind... observing how the river seems to change as I sit here, lost in my own thoughts.”

Their past echoed in the distance, and Renuka felt it tugging at her heartstrings. "I... Ravi..."

"Yes?"

"You wait. I need to walk away..." she glanced at the distant horizon, sadness flitting across her features.

"Please... I’ll always be here," he said softly, a declaration veiled in longing.

Renuka turned back to face him, a flicker of hope threading through her heart. "Ravi..."

“Just a moment, for the sake of this encounter.” He stepped forward, extending his hand towards her.

She looked at him, then, without pondering too long, took his hand tightly. There was warmth, a tangible connection reverberating between them, making time stand still as they silently held one another’s gaze.

Finally, breaking the spell, she let a soft giggle escape her lips. "You have cold fingers," she teased, their laughter mingling in the cool air like precious music, each note stirring deep within their souls.

The first drops of rain began to fall, and Ravi looked up at the sky. "Looks like it’s going to rain."

Renuka glanced upward, moisture gathering in her eyes, reflecting the storm brewing within. She hesitated before she softly spoke, “How is Dileep? Is he doing well?”

"He endured two years of treatment after the accident," Ravi shared, sadness coloring his tone. "Can you imagine a once fiery spirit trapped? But he’s fighting back stronger than ever," he said, pride swelling in his chest.

A chill breeze swept through, sending shivers down Renuka’s spine, and as if sensing the moment, she tightened her grip on Ravi's hand, wrapping her saree closer around her.

"I need to go, Ravi. If I stay longer, I fear the rain will make my journey difficult," she said, though part of her ached to remain.

His eyes held hers, pleading, "Perhaps it was worth waiting for this rain while standing by the river, right?"

Renuka looked at him, a mix of determination and wistfulness in her expression. Without a word, she turned and started walking away, leaving Ravi standing beneath the wisps of descending rain and memories that threatened to engulf him.

Then, as if struck by realization, he called out, "Renuka...?"

She turned back. "What is it, Ravi?"

"I... I want to meet you again... when the time is right," he declared, pouring out with courage.

Renuka’s heart fluttered, her eyes widening at his words. Silently, she nodded, turning to leave, the rain cascading down, coloring the world around her as she stepped forward into the waiting storm.