Maya was fuming. She had just had a bitter quarrel with her boyfriend and had put down the phone rather unceremoniously. She was travelling in a bus and, for a few moments, had forgotten that a few people were staring at her disapprovingly, while she was shouting over the phone. As she disconnected the phone and became aware of the situation, she felt rather embarrassed and conscious.

As the other passengers got immersed in their own thoughts, Maya became uncomfortably aware of the male passenger sitting right next to her, staring at her from a very close distance. She started squirming in her seat and finally looked at him, wishing to confront the man. However, before Maya could seek an explanation about the brazen attention being showered upon her, the man smiled and inquired, “Fought with your boyfriend, haven’t you?” Maya was in no mood to share her personal life with a stranger. However, to keep things simple, she just smiled and nodded a tight yes, making it clear that she had no inclination to pursue the conversation. However, she could not help but notice the beautiful bouquet of flowers that the man was holding in his hands. Her lingering gaze on the bunch was enough to egg on her fellow passenger. He started: “Even I have fought with my wife and am on my way to make it up to her with this beautiful bunch of flowers.” Maya acknowledged with a brief smile. The man continued: “It was really a small issue. I could not return home in time because of work pressure and we had to miss a movie because of that. She was mad at me. Poor girl. She hardly gets an escape from the house. I really should have returned in time. But, no problem, these flowers would make her happy.” He smelled the bunch and cheered up. Maya could not help but feel pity for the man. He had a longing melancholy touch in his voice that tugged at her heart. He turned and asked, “Do you think that my wife will like these?” He indicated the flowers. “Oh, of course sir, she would love them. They are so beautiful.” As soon as she said this, she knew that she had gone overboard. But she could not help it; the flowers were really a treat to watch. The man thought for a moment and said, “Then why don’t you keep them? I am sure my wife would not mind. I will tell her about you. In any case, I have a card for her too.” He produced a greeting card from his bag. Following a moment of hesitation, Maya accepted the flowers. Something about the man rang very true; otherwise, she would have never accepted the flowers from a stranger. “Hi, I am Maya.””And I am David. I hope you guys patch up soon.” He smiled and added “My stop has come. It was very nice talking to you.” It was Maya’s stop also and both of them got down from the bus, shook hands and went opposite ways.

As Maya looked back after taking a few steps, she saw David walk through the gates of the graveyard. A strange feeling gripped Maya. She followed David into the graveyard and saw him bent down on his knees, in front of a grave. She approached and read the engraving. Her apprehensions proved to be true and tears rolled down her eyes. On the gravestone, it was written:

Mary D’Souza

Wife of David D’Souza

1969 – 2009

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