Lidia

He had been sick for days now, he looked out of the window, winter had descended on to Delhi, there was morning fog, with no clue of sunlight, all he could hear was distant traffic, no chirping of birds today, there was an eerie calmness. All of a sudden he felt lonely, this was a strange visitor from the past, as far as he knew he had killed this part of his, as far as he knew he longed to be lonely, but now when he was dying, he didn't want to be alone. He had been thinking all morning, wrapped in the quilt, staring blankly at the ceiling, he let all the thoughts flash by, didn't hang on to any one thought for long. But he kept coming back to her, kept coming back to the realization that he needs her, more now than ever.
He remembered the last time he had seen her, it had been 6 years ago. It had been a long time and very long and lonely time, he felt the acute urge to go back to roots, he resisted it for couple of hours, and then the realization dawned on him. He had been resisting the urge for too long, 25 years too long.
Finally he picked up the phone and called her.
how are you
I am fine, what about you
what are you up to
listen, whatever you are doing, just drop it, get on the next flight to Delhi, I need you, I don't want to die alone.
five hours later, Lidia was sitting next to his bed, holding his hands, making him feel, as always, wanted.

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The allure of Solitude lies in it being perennial