The White Napkin
It was the first thought that struck her as she woke up. He was gone. And soon, this house with all its memories would be gone as well. It was the strangest feeling ever. She glanced at the empty wheel chair. His half paralyzed body, sunken eyes, dark lips and an expression that remained suspended between despair and false hope– everything came alive for a moment. She went outside in the garden. The red old hibiscus smiled back at her. The still delicate mango tree swayed gracefully, its soft green leaves rattled by a mild wind. She remembered how she had once planted the young sapling in the brown earth while he managed the watering can. She stared at her house for a long time – a solo, white and blue, hut shaped bungalow in South Goa against the backdrop of Sahyadri Mountains. River Sal flowed at a walkable distance. The next house was around five hundred yards away. In this fa