The crimson hues of the sky illuminated the still water, and the tides rose, marching towards the shore; the frothy water crashed and receded, soaking the dry sand with moisture.
Nishant watched the sun dip below the horizon, a gentle breeze caressing his face and roaring tides replacing the quietness.
In the distance, a couple held hands, chuckling and whispering, and their voices drowned in the sound of the sea.
A trail of memories flashed before Nishant, only to be swept away by a surging tide, leaving nothing behind. Tears stung his eyes, wet with remorse and guilt. The familiar numbness resurfaced, and his heart ached for the time to rewind. Sanjana's death had shattered him.
He and Sanjana often visited the isolated beach, seeking a moment away from the chaos. She had drawn closer then, lightly brushing her fingers against his before entwining them with hers. Slowly, she leaned on his shoulders, watching the sun dipping below the point- its descent a promise to rise again. A strand of her hair danced in the breeze. Nishant loved watching the colours of the sunset, and the mighty sound of waves captivated him, drawing him to this less crowded place.
One summer evening, they walked together, holding hands on the shore. Sanjana playfully leaned forward, splashed some salty water, and threw a bit on Nishant. Laughing, she pulled Nishant's hands and ran towards the tides, and the shifting sand beneath her feet made her unsteady as the water receded. She loved these moments, grinning cheerfully in a childlike manner. Hasn't she always been like this- chirpy, bubbly and carefree? She ventured further into the sea, waving at Nishant, who silently watched her skid, dive and run.
Unknowingly, Sanjana went too far, crossing the safety limits. The calm, vast ocean changed, seizing her in its tumultuous embrace. She struggled, bound by the merciless waves, screaming and kicking the deadly water.
Panic-stricken Nishant ran to rescue her, leaping into the briny depths, but his strength failed against the overpowering currents. Like a tigress, the sea roared, dragging Sanjana's feeble body into its dark abyss, pushing Nishant away, and throwing him to the shore. Her desperate cries faded into the noise, like froth on the land. Nothing remained. Nothing remains after such catastrophes except guilt, anger, regret and yearning.
The confines of guilt had corroded his heart, and he came to resent the sea—even the smell of salty, damp felt like an irritant. Deep down, Nishant blamed himself for Sanjana's death, and he remained stuck in a whirlpool of despair. One quiet day, he sat alone on the shore, watching the tides surge and tumble; a strange stillness settled over him. For one fleeting moment, he felt as if Sanjana was walking towards him, her presence as vivid as the ripples. She leaned in gently and softly pressed his hand. Then, just as suddenly, she was gone, like the receding wave.
On the sand, a message remained, "To Let Go."