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Sunita was looking at the ground and walking. That had become her habit from the past two years, not to look at anyone. She wanted to be in the background and non-controversial. Her personality reflected that. She was plump comfortably middle-aged two tyres around her waist her curly hair was tied in some kind of an unmanageable knot, she had a pale pink lipstick it all stood out, do not notice.

Sunita had lost her husband in a sudden heart attack. The children had just joined college. Her world had come shattering down to say the least. Her life after that had revolved around the children. If her body craved for closeness, or sex or her mind craved for something more emotionally satisfying than a well-cooked meal she ignored it. She was a role model widow. She looked after her children went to the temple regularly. She had female friends.the only males she knew were her relatives and that included her brother, brother-in-law and a couple of male friends but beyond that she really did not know anyone..

Sunita had strong views on morals unflinching faith in God and sexual promiscuity was a greater sin than cruelty or cheating.She was intelligent but had some kind of mental block about sexual morals.

Sunita had started walking in the park in the evening. It gave her some peace and some kind of exercise. Most of the faces slowly became familiar.

She would gingerly smile at all the people she became familiar with at the walk Soon she developed some friends who would ask her to walk with her and she started walking with these new found friendsThat was her only outing, which she looked forward to. She used to walk with a group of people very far away from her social circle. Soon someone’s elder brother joined the walk gang. Sunita was frightened and in a dilemma, should she walk or not walk with this elder brother Pradeep.

Sunita kept really far away from Pradeep.The only comforting thing about him was that he was old balding and not really middle aged but old and was comfortable to be with. One day no body had come for the walk except Pradeep.Sunita debated whether to walk wih him or not to, but Pradeep put her mind to rest when he said hey walk with me. Sunita turned red in the face and thought it would be surly to refuse.

The walk was scintillating to say the least. Pradeep asked gentle prying questions and surprisingly the walk became easy and the time flew. Sunita did not realize it was so late and muttered something like I better go. Pradeep looked at her softly and said I know so sad and gently touched her cheek Sunita shrank back in horror. If Pradeep noticed he did not comment. The walks continued. Pradeep was the solitary male in their group. There was a good deal of ribbing, which Pradeep enjoyed.

There was little walking and more talking. Sunita started participating, she avoided the dirty jokes but was more open. She laughed more. She appreciated the changing weathers and rain gave her as much delight as it did earlier when her husband was alive. She loved the smell of rain on dry parched land. Before she realized it she had also started dressing up for the walk. Gone was the curly haired untidy bun, in its place was a smart short haircut.now She never came for the walk without a lipstick, which showed, and kajal. Slowly she tried different clothes and finally settled for track pants and long t -shirts. She convinced herself it was not possible to walk with a three-meter long dupatta. During the course of their walks Pradeep and Sunita developed a bond, which she did not really realize.

It was Sunita, s birthday her children were away to camps with their friends. Her walk Friends refused to leave her alone. They all came to wish her and Pradeep was in the group. They had a lovely time. They kept laughing and chatting and cracking jokes. After a long time Sunita felt alive and really happy. The house reverberated with the sounds of laughter in the evening, except sitting next to her was Pradeep not her husband, and she cared yet did not care. She wanted Pradeep to be with her. Sunita felt a kind of electricity in the air some dormant desires, which she had forgotten, came to the surface, did she feel the tingling in her body or did she imagine it. Was the hair on her arm standing or was it her imagination working overtime. Why the desire to touch and at her age, and to this old man. She knew nothing about him. She knew he was separated from his wife but beyond that nothing. Did he feel the desire, which she felt? She was ashamed of herself. When was the last time she felt like that? She did not remember. She was so busy being a mother and a daughter-in-law that she had forgotten that these feelings still exist. Pradeep seemed unaware of the currents he had caused. Every one had left.

Pradeep lingered on a few minutes more. Sunita had forgotten her age, she felt she was floating, she just wanted to reach out and touch him. Touch she did on the pretext of saying you have dropped some thing on your shirt. Pradeep laughed and said should I take of my shirt, do not worry I am safe I am dysfunctional waist down wards. Sunita laughed embarrassed. Pradeep left but before that he had given a soft peck on the cheek Sunita could not sleep the whole night. She wondered what was happening to her, she wondered if she should walk again. She could not handle her feelings. Pradeep was there the next day in the evening. He looked at her and smiled it was the same warm guileless smile. They walked together. Sunita kept looking at Pradeep sideways, did he remember the peck as she remembered. No Pradeep was quite unconcerned. Today no one had turned up and they were walking alone. Sunita cursed her self for making a mountain out of molehill. When the mandatory one-hour was up of the walk, Pradeep as was his custom walked up to the car with her. He smiled his sweet smile and said “had fun last night, you have a lovely house And you are really warm and caring.”

Sunita smiled and did not utter a word. How would he know that she could not sleep at all. That careless peck on the cheek had aroused emotions for which she had no answer. Pradeep again smiled and said “Sunita I am human too, but unconsummated love is the best.at my age I could do with a friend rather than a lover, lovers are transitory friends are permanent and friends forever,” and he shook hand with Sunita.

Sunita smiled and said friends forever and chose to ignore the many sensations the handshake had aroused.

Que. Sere. Sera. What ever will be will be but I will continue to walk with Pradeep smiled Sunita to herself.

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