True Magic

My breathing became heavier and rougher. I know I will die in a matter of minutes if not seconds. Still, the question that haunted me for more than half my life wouldn’t rest even in my death bed. It returned one more time..

What happened to her?

Fifty years back on the same day, I returned home from office to find that my wife is missing. A frantic search for 24 hours by me, my friends and family failed. Panic-stricken, I registered a complaint with the local police.

“Mr.Deepak , when was the last time you saw your wife?”, asked Inspector Kumaran.

“Yesterday morning. Before I left for office..”

The Inspector looked around our house which showed no evidence of struggle. “Was she planning to go out? Or did she invite anyone home?”

“No.. She would have informed me if she had made any sudden plans.”

“How was she when behaving? Depressed? Nervous? Suspicious or secretive?”

“Happy.. She was jubilant”. The diamond ring I presented for her birthday that morning dimmed in brightness compared to the love and happiness that shined in her eyes. “It was her birthday, and we had made plans to go out for dinner”, my voice quivered, “but she was
nowhere to be found when I returned home”.

“Does your wife have any enemies?”

“No. She is kind and polite. I can’t imagine her making enemies.”

“How long have you known her?”

“Five years, Inspector.”

“When did you get married?”

“Six months back.”

“Do you have any enemies, Mr.Deepak? Anyone who might have a motive to destroy you?”
I thought for a while and said, “Nope.”

“Ok Mr. Deepak, We will start our search at once to find your wife at the earliest,” the Inspector shook my hand before leaving.

A rattling cough brought me back from my brooding to the grim hospital room. Fifty years passed but nothing returned my dearest. I looked at my hands; they have withered down with age, so is the rest of my body. I wondered whether my wife would call me her handsome even in this condition. But I know she would have.

“True love is magic”, that’s what she used to say and believe. Maybe I believed it too, maybe that’s why I never married and waited for her to return all these years. Many called me stupid, but something in me told me she would come back someday.

I heard my door open and turned my head to experience the shock of my life followed by relief and joy. It’s my wife!
But I felt confused because she looked as young as the day she disappeared. Her eyes recognized me and she rushed forward, tears trickling down her cheeks and took my hands in hers. “Deepak, You can’t die.. Not now.. Not when I have returned..”

“Shreemathi, what happened to you?”, I sputtered out each word with immense difficulty, “Where were you all these years?”
She removed her diamond ring from her finger and held it in front of me, “Do you remember this, love?”

“Yeah, I gifted this to you on your birthday,” I closed my eyes, “the day you disappeared.”

“This is a cursed ring, Deepak.”

Startled, I opened my eyes and looked at her as she continued. “After you left for office, I noticed the diamond glowing red. My vision dissolved, and I found myself in some kind of netherworld.”
Her voice trembled and fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. “There was no other being there. It was a flat barren land. I had no clue about how to escape.” A faraway look came upon her face, “I don’t know how long I spent there. I never felt hungry or thirsty. Neither did I sleep. I thought it should be a curse.”

Wiping her tears and I asked “How did you find your way out now and why didn’t you come back sooner dear?”

“No idea. I don’t know how it happened. Once again my vision dissolved, and I was back in our house. I was shocked when I found that fifty years has passed since my curse. I enquired your neighbors and rushed here.”

“I am so happy to see you,” I gave her my best smile.

She tried to smile and failed. “But I never thought it would be your final moments.”Her whole body rocked as she wept uncontrollably.

“The curse broke but nothing has changed. No use because of me coming back.”
I wiped away her tears and said, “No. It has made all the difference. Now I can die peacefully. There is no greater gift than seeing your beautiful face in my last minutes.”

We heard a hushed voice sing and realized that it is from the diamond ring as it glowed. We put our heads together and brought the ring closer to listen to its singing.

“A curse shall fall upon the one who owns me
A curse that will reverse after half a century
If only true love is in the heart.
For True love is the real magic”

As the song finished, the ring disintegrated.
My hands flew to my chest as my breathing constricted. My eyes closed, my breathing stopped, and the world became dark and mute as I embraced death.
But no, my breathing is back, and it’s easier! I felt alive and healthy, like I am in a new body. I opened my eyes to find myself in our house and my wife is still holding my hands which are looking as young as the day my wife disappeared.