Abir...

“Abir”, “lets call him Abir, Varun” I said as I stood on the gray rock watching the transient waters of the beach wash over my feet.

I thought I could stay like that forever, staring into the deep, clear blue ocean with a tinge of black, a reflection of the dark sky above us.

“Abir” he said, as if trying out the name for himself “it means color right?” he asked.

I nodded my head and looked towards him.

“It’s a beautiful name Kanika, I like it” he said

Sitting on a huge black rock, gazing out into the ocean, the very hues of the sea reflected in his eyes, his white cotton shirt unbuttoned and his denim jeans rolled upto his knees, Varun  seemed almost like a vision and as he looked towards me smiling his perfect lopsided smile, I thought I couldn’t be happier. I smiled back, knowing that the smile was real.

I gazed at the black sky, the sun was about to die down. It was exuding the most incredible colors into the ocean.

“I love you” he whispered into my ears as he came close and enveloped me in his arms, witnessed by the scattered sun resting on the dew of the waters, and the unsung lullaby’s of the trees around.

There was laughter, crowded laughter. I staggered to pull myself out of the memory.

“Ah, there he is, he’s a proper trouble maker, and at such a young age, I have two children to look after now!” she said with affection.

My eyes fell on a little boy, his hands continuously making knots on his mother’s bandhini duppatta, wearing adorable red sneakers.

I sat on one leg to get a better look of the child. He had brown eyes, they were light, pensive. His smile was comforting and lopsided, forcing me to remember again. I smiled inspite of myself as he peered at me curiously, questioning my existence.

“He’s beautiful” I said “what’s his name?”

“Abir” she replied “his father came up with that, its very unique, isn’t it?” she smiled

I stood there transfixed, stumbling to compose my senses. I looked at him, at Varun. He seemed to be lost, dazed. His brown eyes usually brimming with confidence were darting nervously towards the ground.

“It’s a beautiful name” I said painting a smile on my face.

I looked at Varun, then his wife, the ever smiling mannequin and finally at Abir.

I bade them goodbye. Him, I knew for the last time and headed out of the crowd, till I reached the same rock, the same waters, the same skies. The place I had grown to love and loathe.

“I love you” he whispered into my ears as he came close and enveloped me in his arms, witnessed by the scattered sun resting on the dew of the waters, and the unsung lullaby’s of the trees around.

And I had the answer, three feet tall, in adorable red sneakers.