“Do you know Mrs. Dutta, I went to grocery store today. I did buy the ingredients. But when I started the work in my kitchen, I couldn’t put together all what Barkha used to do for preparing the cake. She used to cook so well, the vanilla puffed cake was her specialty. She never explained me how she used to make those lovely cakes. Neither did I care to learn. I used to think my wife will never leave me. She will stick to me till my breath will last.” Mr. Partho got carried away. His eyes moist and voice got heavy as he spoke his words. Silence prevailed in the room, and it seemed as if it’s going to last forever. “Don’t say like that Partho. She never left you. It’s all destiny. God loved Barkha so much. And that’s why he…” “Don’t you think I loved her too? I loved her more than God. She should have stayed here with me. Always. Forever”, cried Mr. Partho, almost on the verge of crying he was. Silence existed for few more moments. But it ended as Mrs. Dutta tried to take over the void. “Now come on. Lets cut the cake. Its Barkha’s birthday and you are not going to disappoint her. She was a lovely wife. You must not sadden her by saddening yourself like this. Nature and its laws, we can’t go against it. Don’t you think so Partho?”
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