The White Butterfly
I was walking alone a dark road. There was no sign of life, neither I could see any light. It was dark as hell. Out of nowhere suddenly a white butterfly came and started flying in front of me. To say that it was only a white butterfly wouldn’t be enough it has something divine in it. I couldn’t take my eyes off it. I became eager to catch it. I started running after it, but alas, I stumbled and fell down only to wake up to find that it was morning already. In the initial days, I ignored the dream but as the days passed by it started haunting me every night. Yes, the dream is haunting, at least for me because it left me disturbed the whole day.
However, today I don’t know why, I didn’t see the dream. I woke up rather early in the morning around 4:30 am, fresh than ever. Seeing the time, I thought for taking a stroll in the local lake area. I took out my tracksuit from the closet nearly after 5 long years and wore it. Wow! It fitted me better. I took out my best pal, my camera and went out.
The air, I breathed today seems to me fresher. The lazy street dogs are still busy sleeping. Only a few people, whom I have never seen were jogging, and as they saw me wished “Good Morning, son”, as if they knew me for quite a long time. The sun had just started to show its lovely shiny face. I took out my camera and started taking pictures – lazy dogs, an old couple feeding the birds, baby birds chirping and so many. Today as if the Mother Nature is very happy. The camera got glued to my eyes. I don’t want to miss any beautiful and charismatic moment of this morning.
I was about to take a picture when suddenly I felt like I saw that butterfly of my dreams. I moved the camera but I couldn’t find it anywhere, but yes I could see someone standing and feeding the bird. Dressed in complete pure white she has that divine glow that I have seen before. I walked towards her and asked “May, I have a picture of yours?” As she turned, I remained awestruck for a minute. She was… She was my love, my true love, my love forever. She was Mayuri. I met her in class XI when I took admission to the Dreams school, Naina, Himachal. She was the first one to befriend me and within a few days our friendship blossomed to love. We are in love so, so much, that even our parents thought we are one and not two separate persons. All was going well, until exactly one year back, I broke up. She suddenly started complaining about everything, everything I do, everything I say. It became unbearable for me, and I ultimately broke up, though it left me shattered. But as it is said, ”time can heal anything “, yes I got over that pain too, though it taught me never to fall in love again.
After I saw her so many years later, I kept looking to her eyes. I want to kiss her. I want to say her sorry, I want to say so many things, but I couldn’t, I can’t. We started walking together along the road. The air turned to be more chiller, as if everything in this world is freezing. Both of us didn’t speak a single word, our eyes doing all that on our behalf. She broke the ice and with that beautiful heavenly smile all over her face, she asked me, “Won’t you take my picture like those old days for?” How can I refuse? She looked more beautiful than ever in that white dress. I took my camera and started taking her pictures. Time passed by, the sun had com e out from the mother earth’s back, but I didn’t care, it was my happiest moment. She suddenly stopped me and said I must go. I requested her to allow me one last photo. However, before I could take, she just vanished, and she was nowhere to be seen. However, yes I could see that white butterfly again. It flew towards me sat on my cheek and then flew away. Though I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye, I didn’t feel sad at all. I was happier than ever. I returned home and after taking bath, I became busy with my daily chores. At night, I sat in front of my desktop and transferred all the photos to have a glimpse of her again. But oh God! She was nowhere there in those photos. Am I dreaming? I rubbed my eyes and saw those photos again. No she wasn’t there. But there was something in those photos. I zoomed it. And all I could see was “the white butterfly”. I could not stop myself, after one year I called her up. Her mother picked up the phone and after a pause I said, “Hello Auntie, I am Varun, remember me??? Where is Mayuri??” She started crying and said, “Son, she is no more. She had left us all. She always told me that one day you will definitely gonna call and that will be the day, she will rest in peace. Thanks dear for calling at last. She was diagnosed with leukemia exactly one year ago. And you left her right at that moment. How can you do so? You don’t even call her for once. Whatever, I don’t have any complaints, at least you allowed her to rest in peace. Would you please visit us tomorrow, son? She has left a painting for you, she has drawn in her last days. The painting of a white butterfly.” Hearing white butterfly I just hanged up the phone and returned to my desktop and all I could see was that white butterfly. A tiny drop of salty water just……..
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Several years have passed. I still see that dream, but now I don’t have to catch it, it comes and sits on my cheek every day. I know, I am not lonely any more. She is there with me. By the way, I am Varun Sharma, president of Mayuri Leukemia Trust and our symbol, you know that already.
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