The Ruined Rainbow

CHAPTER 28

Quote: Every man dies but not every man lives.
-William Wallace
Braveheart.(1995)

Ayesha

I watched the puddle of blood growing more and more. I stood there, rooted to the spot in shock. I couldn't move.

I ran to her and placed her head on my lap. Her face were smeared with blood. Her body was covered with blood. Her eyes were closed as if peacefully put asleep beyond. Her long hairs we're dripping wet with dark blood.

I shook her vigorously for the smallest possible movement, but she wouldn't budge. She remained motionless and lifeless.

She was dead.

She was dead.

She was dead.

And that realisation broke me. Thoroughly.

She never acted like my mother. True.
She never supported me. True. She always asked me to keep quiet. True. She murdered my father. True. I hated her. True.

But she was my mother. And nothing could conceal that fact. Nothing.

I stared at her lifeless body, that was alive minutes ago. I stood up and walked to the hall and called the police. I was informing them about suicide. I walked back to the kitchen and sat opposite to my lifeless mother, watching her.

The police arrived in minutes and conducted the post mortem. They picked up the gun and inspected it. They circled the kitchen to find if there were other evidence while a police officer questioned me.

"Were you there at the time of suicide?"

I answered without looking at him.

"Yes."

"What were you doing?"

"Nothing. I was leaving the room, and She called me. "

"How did she kill herself?"

"With a gun. She pointed it at her heart and then..."

"Does your family posses arms?"

"I don't know. Maybe my stepfather does."

"Where is he?"

"I don't know."

"Do you why she took this step?"

I looked at the police officer. There was no other emotion on my face other than regret. The truth was, I had murdered my mother also. I had killed her. I should have just drunk the tea silently. I should not have asked the entire story. I should not have asked her about dad. I should not have come here to Mumbai.

"No." I reply, "I don't."

The police officer handed me a sheet to sign and said to me he would file an FIR now and told me to get some rest, because of the trauma. He told me he would inform my stepfather also.

I saw the body being placed on the stretcher. The room was cleaned so that it did not have any trace of blood and looked like a typical kitchen. But, that could not veil my mother's death. Could it?