A Short Time to Love

Drinking tea with her brother, Neeta picked up the bulky yellow envelope from her lap and took out a brochure. "Oh, Raghav," she said. "This place. It appears simply heavenly. I must visit it. Just look at the photographs."

He studied the pictures perfunctorily and began to read the details. "But Dalhousie is so far away from Pune," he said, surprised.

"Oh, Raghav, I want to see it. Just a few days or perhaps a week"

"Look," he said anxiously. "It's a long journey, Neetu, and you've been in and out of the hospital regarding your treatment for Leukemia.

"I'm OK at the moment," she said gently. "Dr. Kumar said it could be six months, didn't he? Well then. A week or two out of six months. It would be such heaven, Raghav."

He swallowed hard, not wanting to be selfish. It was her life, what was left of it, and they couldn't spend every minute of it together. "If you're sensible," he said. "And don't overdo things."

Raghav was 31, a good seven years older to Neeta. But the loss of Pa and Mamma in a car crash two years back had brought them real close. When Neeta's protracted ill health was finally diagnosed as Leukemia Raghav put his entire life on hold. No more plans of changing the job or getting married to his long time beloved Alisha.

On board the Jhelum-Express Neeta again reassured Raghav, hating to leave him, but driven by an inner need. He waved her off, looking forlorn.

Neeta got down at Pathankot, and went inside the small railway canteen and ordered a cup of tea. As she sipped her tea, she became aware of the attention she was receiving from a young man at a corner table.

Neeta involuntarily put her hands to the scarf wound round her hair, which had grown back well once she'd refused any more chemotherapy. "I've had enough," she'd said to Dr. Kumar. "I know it's incurable and I may not have much longer. I'm going to enjoy what's left to me."

She finished her tea, and picked up her baggage. On her way out she smiled at the young man, rejoicing in the answering flash in his eyes, but was gone before he could react.