Sand in the Void

What’s one small improvement you can make in your life?

Vehant turned the page of a magazine he had been reading for the past
twenty-two minutes. The two new pages revealed information on forest
wealth and how its reduction had become an issue of devastating
consequences.

The smartphone vibrated; it was a work-related email. Vehant went
through it and started typing a reply. The door of the room opened and
Ibhan stepped in. Vehant saved his reply in draft and kept his phone
on the side table.

Ibhan sat down in one of the empty sofa chairs and took two resting
breaths. Then, he met his elder brother’s waiting gaze.

“She is stable now. The doctor recommends another day of observation
before discharge.” Ibhan spoke, then he leaned back in the chair.

Vehant didn’t reply, he gave a single nod of understanding.

Vehant had flown down from another state upon learning about the
hospitalisation of his mother. His younger brother Ibhan lived with
their mother here.

Vehant looked at his younger brother, who for some reason looked
older. Vehant had not come home for four years after his father’s
passing. His mother had however kept their bond alive through her
spoken words of love and written words of care; but, now when she was
unable to do so, Vehant was able to see a vacant space which he had
not realised existed.

Vehant looked into the past and saw the sky of childhood. The ball
that Vehant had thrown was still making its way through the air, and
right before its journey ended, two hands extended and held it within
their grip. The boy who stood with the ball smiled and then threw the
back; this time it had more speed than height. Vehant was not able to
catch it and the ball hit him in the face. Vehant fell with his back
against the grass.

Vehant pulled himself up and felt the supporting hands of his friend
with whom he was playing, the support felt warm because his friend was
also his brother, Ibhan. As children, Vehant and Ibhan ran through
life together like it would remain this way forever. People who saw
them felt happy witnessing the warmth of brotherhood that existed
between the two.

In the present, Vehant looked at his brother. There was a desert of
rift between them, there was sand where once stood a world of
togetherness.

Vehant had left home to find a promising career for himself, and he
certainly did. His father had advised him to look for an opportunity
here itself; but Vehant had made his decision. However, problems
started emerging when Ibhan, who had decided to stay with their
parents and look after them, ended up with a job with a pay much
higher than Vehant’s.

It took a turn for the worse when Vehant saw his father on the
deathbed and realised all the moments he was not part of, and how all
that time had passed by and for a reason which did not make sense
anymore.

“It happens a lot, we just think it is not possible until someone does
it and beats us to it,” Vehant’s uncle had told him.

As time passed, Vehant started speaking less with Ibhan, the missed
calls and unread messages started piling up in the phone and one day
they just stopped coming altogether.

It is surprising to realise how much people are attracted towards a
superior stand even if it is within the warmth of the house, amongst
the family. This struggle for a betterment is in us and with us,
associating it with others may cost something one never planned to
lose.

“What would you like to eat? I am ordering food…….  Do you still like
to eat dosa?”, Vehant asked after opening a food delivery app on his
phone.

Ibhan, who had stepped into a state of resting, opened his
consciousness to the sudden familiar voice which seemed to come from
very far away. His eyes and ears adjusted on the speaker and the
distance closed in until only the one between the two chairs remained.

Ibhan’s expression eased as he spoke, “Yes.. dosa would be fine.”

Vehant smiled at the thought of the small spark which may end up
rebuilding what was lost.

Written by Anuran Chatterji

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