Lying in the green grass on a December morning, she saw a caterpillar crawling towards her. She observed its movement as it surged towards an unknown destination.
“Atleast it’s still crawling,” she thought while wondering about the difference between herself and that tiny creature. She tried to smile but a tear rolled down her eyes wiping away all the hints of the smile.
Her beautiful skin was glinting the purest of sunrays, and her black hair were weaving magic around the guy sitting a stone throw’s distance from her. His gaze was fixed on her as he tried concentrating on the book he was reading.
She was lost in her own thoughts. Thinking about the days gone by, thinking about ‘him’.
5 and half years ago, when he proposed her in front of the whole batch; it felt like the happiest day of her life. She too loved him but never knew that the person she used to stare through her classroom’s window since her first day in college, would echo the same emotions. She had found a perfect lover in him, as she always wanted. College became an excuse to meet him, late-night phone calls took place of her dream to be a designer; her grades dropped but their relationship grew from teenage lovers to fiancés.
She remembered the nights that she spent staring at the diamond ring he placed on her soft and slender fingers; everyone said that her fingers made the ring look even more beautiful. She also remembered the nights that she spent staring blankly at the ceiling after she found him in someone else’s arms, a month before their marriage.
Few more tear drops rolled down her cheek; they reflected the sunlight like a pearl into the eyes of the guy sitting nearby. He wanted to approach her, but something stopped him. He decided to observe the girl; he wanted to witness where the next few moments would take her.
She wiped those tears and continued staring at the caterpillar. It had encountered a stone in its way, just like the one she had encountered six months ago. As the caterpillar desperately tried to cross the stone unsuccessfully, her gaze became even more intense. She thought about the five years with her ex, when like an idiot, she threw away her dreams.
The caterpillar took notice of its surroundings, and realized crossing the stone was its only option, or else it would deviate from its path. It started crawling over the stone, again but unsuccessfully and fell down. She almost removed the stone but something stopped her. She decided to observe the creature; she wanted to witness where the next few moments would take it.
Caterpillar stayed immobile for few seconds, as if it was nursing its injuries and repeated the procedure. This time the tiny creature was successful, a faint smile appeared on her lips.
It was her 23rd birthday, as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. On that December morning, she felt alive once again as the sun had covered her in its warmth; she had finally freed herself from the shackles of his memories but most importantly she felt like smiling for the first time in last six months. Her bangles clinked, producing a beautiful sound as if to celebrate that moment.
She got up, and started walking towards her home. She took a few steps forward and glanced at the boy sitting nearby her. He was reading a book, A thousand splendid suns; it was her favourite novel and something she always wanted her ex to read. She knew that he was staring at her from past few minutes. Suddenly, his face appeared from behind the pages; it was sporting a charming smile. She replied back with one from her side.
“Home and birthday party can wait a bit more,” she thought as she walked towards him with butterflies in her stomach. She was in love with herself, with the surroundings and I guess with the book reading guy as well. They were happy,
The caterpillar and the cutest girl I have ever seen.
Photography by: Sarika Gangwal
Written by: Abhinav Chandel
Project Reflexions 