MY FIRST SHORT STORY.

AND THEN THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER...

 

 

    “Oh god, I’m so tired today”, Kavya said as she entered her apartment. She went inside and sat comfortably on the oversized lounge chair. “Me too! It was the most tiring day. Kav, honey please make some coffee for both of us. I really need it.” Aarav spoke without even noticing how tired she was. But due to her love and affection towards him, she got up and started walking towards the kitchen. As soon as she started sauntering, Aarav sprinted towards the snuggly chair and spranged into it. “Aarav!” she cried, “this is not fair,” he was laughing hysterically. Kavya looked at him totally vexed and annoyed, and asked, “Why do you always do this to me?”. “Because this is my favorite place to relax.”, he said, still laughing. “But before it became your favorite seat it was mine. And you are loving it because I gave you the chance to sit on it that day, don’t you remember?” she said. “So it was your fault that you had let me experience the comfort of this cozy chair, my dear Kav.” he said playfully. “Oh Aarav…look when I am not using it you can recline on it, but unless and until I’m in this world, THAT OVERSIZED LOUNGE CHAIR WILL ALWAYS BE MINE, YOU GET THAT?”, she declared lividly. And then there was silence in the room. They looked at each other. For a few seconds no one spoke. And then finally Aarav said, with a tear rolling down his cheek, “Kav…honey, that means now the chair is mine…. did you forget, you died in the car crash last week!”

               Kavya fell silent for a moment, tears flooded her eyes. But like always, even this time, she had a point to argue with him and she knew, Aarav loves her face while she is arguing. The newspaper in which the news of the car crash was printed, was lying on the table. She picked up the newspaper and read the news for Aarav, “A couple was killed in a car crash yesterday in the evening. The woman, Mrs. Kavya Sharma, age 27 and her husband, Mr. Aarav Sharma, age 30……….”. They stared at each other. Aarav shifted and made some space for her on the chair. “Kav, I think both of us can fit into this chair.” And motioned her to sit beside him. She beamed with joy….. and there she sat with her husband enjoying the afterlife.

 

-Shreya Mahabal.