“Aunty, we have cleaned the attic, and we are now moving to the garden.”

“Ok, now be careful while cleaning around those plants. You better not hurt them.”

Vanita was happy that the house cleaning was almost over. She had found this online service where they cleaned the entire house. The charges were ok, and with a discount. It will be done in 3 days.

“Aunty, the third room on the top floor is locked, and we did not find the key in the bunch that you gave us. Give us the key or open the door for us. The cleaning is pending, Aunty.”

‘Open the door’… A shiver ran through Vanita’s body. Her throat was dry, and darkness engulfed her. The room started to whirl around her, and she slumped down on the floor. Tears rolled down her cheeks even as she controlled her sobs.

One of the girls from the cleaning squads came running down and helped Vanita sit up. They brought her a glass of water. Vanita drank up the glass of water as if she had just returned from the parched land in a desert.

Vanita had tried many times to gather all the courage she could to go up to Shekhar’s room. Her feet had failed to climb the last steps to his room. Her hands had failed to dare open the door that locked the memories of her only son.

“Are you ok, Aunty?” The bunch of young cleaners asked her. Those young, innocent faces, with concern in their eyes, looked at her. Something shifted inside her. It was as if Shekhar himself was standing in front of her with his hand stretched to help her stand.

Her thoughts took her back to the day when he was coming home after collecting his results. He wanted to discuss something important, he had said to them.

“Maybe it is his results,” Vanita said with her voice full of concern. Shekhar did not show up. He arrived late at night and went straight to his room. Vanita checked on him the next morning. He looked sad.

“Shekhar, we waited for a long time, Beta. What is it that you had to talk about? Results ok?”

What Vanita heard next was confusing and a surprise to her. 

“Mom, I love Ravi and want you both to know. I want the world to know.”

“No, Shekhar, what will the world say? What will your dad say? NO.”

Vanita left, leaving him alone. NO, NO, NO!!!

Shekhar was found in his room the next day. Pale and colourless. Lifeless.

“If only I could have helped him open up to the world. It was my NO that took his life.”

The young lot encouraged her. She opened Shekhar’s room. She cleaned it along with the others. The difference was that it was not water but her tears that she used to clean as if she were begging him to come back.

“It’s ok, Beta, I understand you,” she kept saying.