Is a little chaos actually good for us?
The song playing was once Himani’s favourite and as she kept hearing it ahead, it once again called out to her heart. Himani added the song to one of her playlists in the music app.
Himani was trying her best to distract herself. She was trying hard not to think of her cousin Juhi. Himani was older than Juhi and more than being cousins they used to be good friends and still were if empty considerations meant anything. Both lived in different cities but back then vacations had a clear destination.
When Himani got her first job, she made sure no matter how busy she got, she would always have time for family. Then when Juhi started her professional life, it was quite the opposite. Even her own parents complained about how little time they got to talk with her. Most of Himani’s calls and messages were left unanswered.
Himani decided maybe she should take a vacation visit to Juhi and give her some timeless advice.
“If you want to meet mom and dad, it’s fine. But I don’t have time right now, and I would prefer not to be disturbed,” Juhi had said on a phone call.
Himani was hurt but she didn’t say it. She let it go and she waited for that one day when Juhi would message or call her and that is how things remained until two years later when for about three days Juhi’s messages started coming, no mention of what happened before though. Himani felt maybe there was a moment of realisation. On the third day Juhi said she was coming. Himani had just returned from her childhood friend’s wedding, she had a pile of work waiting for her, but she could not say no, thinking this could be good.
Juhi had been laid off from her workplace, something Juhi hadn’t mentioned to Himani but Juhi’s mother had quietly slipped in the situation to Himani’s mother on a phone call. Himani read her mother’s message in the office.
The song ended, Himani sat silent for a while, the few days after the vacation had been tough. She had to take some work back home as well. The merciless rain hit against the car as it moved slowly but mostly stopped in the heavy traffic. Himani felt at the moment that her life was beginning to feel a little chaotic, she wondered if the rain was enough to cover out her high-pitched voice. Although anger should not be allowed to influence a decision that might be sensitive in some manner, but Himani felt this was the perfect time as she proceeded to call Juhi.
Written by Anuran Chatterji
Early Morning Memories 
One response to “A Call away”
This is such an emotionally engaging chapter. You have portrayed the complexities of family relationships with great sensitivity—the quiet hurt of being ignored, the unspoken expectations, and the hope that time might heal old distances.
The rain, the music, and the traffic beautifully mirror Himani’s emotional turmoil, creating a vivid atmosphere.
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