Tulips wilted in the vase and nobody noticed. The house was abuzz with activity. Nalini Mehta, 36, had her hands full. Her daughter Chavi, 13 years old, was finally home after a brief stint in the woods. The stay at the hill station lasted two months because the photography workshop demanded that kind of time from Chavi. Photography was her passion and she always wanted to pursue it as a career whenever her education was completed. Nature always acted as a retreat for the young lady of the house.

Whenever Chavi was away Nalini always had too much on her plate. A part of the house was commercially a success. Nalini loved pottery and was also a business woman for the same. The backyard had a portion that helped in making her dream of owning a pottery hub come true. Buyers found the place rejuvenating as it had Nalini’s midas touch. Nalini, a dusky beauty, had married Navin Mehta as soon as she had realised that living a minute without him would be a curse. Navin and Nalini had accidentally met in a temple and the rest is history.

The lovebirds’ courtship had lasted a year and parents of the duo had agreed for their holy union without much fuss. Conjugal bliss flowed in the premises for a decade. After two years of marriage, Chavi entered their lives and it was like an extended celebration. It felt as if the gods were smiling on them. Often, the Mehtas did charity for the greater good of the world. They were helpful people and made the world a better place to live because of their philanthropic endeavours.

Summer of 2000 brought with it a lot of misfortune for Nalini. Navin, a doctor by profession, had succumbed to a road accident and life was not the same once he left for the inevitable.  It was harsh when he was taken away from Nalini so abruptly and brutally. A proper goodbye just couldn’t happen for neither Nalini nor Chavi. Lone hours in the woods after her father’s demise had generated an interest with the camera. She used to click pictures to pass her time and magically it had become a passionate hobby. 

‘Mother, I missed you, seriously. I so wanted you to accompany me to the woods. It was lovely. My tutor gave us so many new ideas to make it all the more worthwhile. So many angles can have such beautiful effects and eyes who understand the beauty of photography will be charmed to no end,’ concluded Chavi. 

‘I guess I can say the same for pottery, my dear daughter. Pottery too can have calming effects. It can fill the artist in so many ways. Creativity flows from all corners and then there is no stopping,’ added Nalini. 

‘You know Mother, I felt I saw Father, while taking some shots. I felt he was with me and then I missed you double,’ exclaimed Chavi.

Nalini’s eyes were moist on that mention but she covered it so beautifully that Chavi couldn’t notice and continued the talk by acknowledging, ‘That’s wonderful my dear, somehow I know he would never let you be alone on your own. I am glad he can do things which I cannot. Wish I could meet the same fate once I finally meet him whenever it is due,’ confided Nalini. 

‘Don’t talk of leaving me ever. I would not be able to take it, Mother,’ Chavi hushed her mum with that liner and gave a loving look.

Nalini was stumped and opted not to continue but instead gave her daughter a flying kiss and returned to her pottery hub with a reassuring smile. She missed her daughter while she was away and it was pure comfort to see her back in the house. She missed Navin less because of her magnanimous presence and loving spirit. Chavi used to be all over the place. Filling each corner with fresh memories, adolescent spectacle as well as curious queries. Life was never a dull moment in her presence. 

City life had its demands. Schools had re-opened. 15 days had passed in a jiffy once Chavi was back from the woods. Nalini was surprised when even after a week Chavi refused to go to school. She used to make some excuse or the other to stay home. Nalini was surprised that the school too was very casual and never insisted on an explanation about Chavi’s absence. Weeks kept rolling and Chavi was home happily living her life as she was doing things that defined her. 

One fine morning, Nalini received a call on landline from Chavi’s school and Nalini answered. 

Hello, yes this is Nalini, what is the matter Mrs. Philips, may I know the reason for your call. I agree I was all set to send Chavi to school today but seems after returning from the woods she just doesn’t want to no matter how hard I try,’ informed Nalini. 

Within minutes, the receiver fell from Nalini’s hands and she was at a loss of words. The person on the other end of the phone had informed her that a while ago they had received a bag that had a few clothes, slippers, a camera and a notebook with the address of the school on it posted from some hill station. Nothing else was found so the villagers had sent it to the school. It seems two people had slipped and fell in the waterfall as their slippers were seen near the walking area to the waterfall. The place was slippery so it was advisable to go barefoot.

Nalini kept sobbing relentlessly. Her girl had gone yet when she looked at the balcony facing the room where the telephone was kept she saw Chavi smiling at her like always and when Chavi saw her mother crying she darted, ‘What is the matter with you Mother, why are you crying? I am right here where I always belong,’ saying this Chavi kept looking at her mother convicncingly. It took no time for Nalini to realise that why Chavi never hugged her mother and always kept a distance. She was far far away but very much near.