One fine morning, two men brought me along many other from what they call a large place--- factory to this showroom. I was neat and clean, ivory-white in color. Besides, that little chap cleansed me and my fellows with his even dirty cloth patch. Sometimes dirt helps us cleanse. I learned this too in those days.

He used to clear all dirt and dust from of us with his rough strikes almost every day to attract customers. I felt overwhelm when others were talking to each other, and I remained still and silent. Even ear-piercing honks of cars failed to distract me. Days passed by but my stillness never moved for I never felt belong to those or this place anymore. It’s like I was waiting for someone to come. It’s a kind of ache that kept on pinching my soul. My companions would never understand let alone care enough what I was going through those days. For even I was unaware what’s firing beneath.

Days passed by and with that most of my peers were gone too happily in their new places. However when any customer came see to buy me, I would silently whispered; no please get someone else, not me, not now. And that usually happened too, more often than not. Although my behavior was strange to me as well, when others wished to be taken or accepted I longed to stay here—in this four walled cage which I abhorred deeply. It was strange to me more than I was to others.

Perhaps that mind-chattering was not all true, the right time hasn’t come yet for me to be gone or may be the right person… I was content even in this waiting and longing.

Fresh pieces arrived in shop and they pushed me back. I couldn’t care less. Rather happier. But this ongoing agitation was growing and growing and unnerving me but I couldn’t do much about it other than waiting patiently. One summer afternoon, I heard shop owner was asking someone to come buy this table--me.

 “Sir you can buy it at cheaper rates than other if you may wish.”

I heard him speaking this carelessly. I felt unwanted. Suddenly the feeling of unworthiness gushed over me and tears rolled over my ivory smooth surface. Oh Almighty! How long? How long??

I felt numb for eternity.

A voice woke me up. Two girls came in. I opened my eyes one I don’t know but the other… there she was…

I recognized her the moment our eyes met. Ahh there you are. Shop owner was dealing with her while showing her new pieces but leaving other aside she stood by my side. Resting her hands on me, she soothed my top—my soul. I can’t tell in words the warmth and familiarity I felt in those sacred moments. Take me please and my prayer answered instantly. I started whirling and whaling in joy. My companions were shocked seeing that I was never wanted to be taken and here I’m overjoyed even at my cheaper rate deal.

They couldn’t understand, neither I made any effort to do so. She got me, she bought me that’s enough for me.

There she placed me in her vast backyard surrounded by tall trees and red-violet sparkling flowers. Birds would sing strange yet melodic songs there. It was magic in air. With one big blow she cleansed the dust of years and I was new and worthy again.

Every morning and evening, she would come there walk and watch the sky searching for some missing pieces. She kept on thinking and found no answers even birds didn’t tell her. She would sit there sip tea, chat with siblings and again sky gazing—looking for the answers those question were unknown either.

Days passed by , hundred many dusks melted into dawn, here lay me seemingly calm, stable but was carrying restlessness in heart, so did that girl. Amid glamour and clamor of her apparently ‘busy’ life she forgot coming in backyard. Birds would still come to enchant a lonely yard. Her absence made backyard even lonelier although filled by other family members. Fellow chairs couldn’t stand the harshness of seasons and got smashed and then thrown away one by one.

Now this coffee table remained all alone in that big backyard under long dark shadows of tress all around. When last golden sunrays would spark its white surface and withered leaves scattered on windy evenings it made her even more melancholic.

“Do you want to discard it, as we are to buy a new table set?” her brother asked one day.

“No!!! It will stay here.” Every inch of yard listened to her scream that evening. And then no one ever asked or even thought to throw it away like they did with fellow chairs.

A concrete portico replaced that marshy backyard. New place new chairs but old table, and same old melancholia. There were no trees all around but birds never stop singing not even here and that kept the hope alive in my heart. Although I had turned shabby now. A clear white top turned pale grey with scars so deep here and there. It was suffice for me that my owner kept me still.

Now she again started coming –only to sit and sip…

Something was burning inside her which she learned deliberately to ignore over the years.

When sad and lonely she would place her head on me and I felt so likely to hug - and tell her come to me honey. I have an answer. But would she listen…??

Her frequent visits ignited hope in me. She’s missing someone and I have had been missing her all those tiny moments spanned 7 long years.

One day in deep despair she came to me with her sketchbook and started doodling randomly. I can’t tell how much I got overjoyed like pink birthday balloon.

But that didn’t run through for long. Wasn’t that bit enough for me till now? I never left hope.

After one week she was to set out for a long trip. Although travelling has always been in her plans now and then but this time there was some mystery in the air. I could smell it though. One midnight I whispered her a goodbye. I can’t tell how I passed those 7 long days. How much I missed her. Turned deaf to everything I would pray for her safety all day long. For she went to fulfill her dream to summit the basecamp of “The Killers Mountain”—Nanga Parbat. And that dream embedded with thousand many dreams.

How I longed for her not to go to some dangerous place let alone some killer’s place. But wilderness of her dreams made me to surrender to something majestic. However, nobody dared to move or throw me away in her long absence. So I felt safe and not so alone. Summers have come but for me there was only one season—a season of parting.

One quiet evening she came as quietly as she left. Each inch of my being embraced her presence. I sensed something inexplicable. But didn’t know what that was. She slept for three days in a row. I kept waiting but she didn’t come to me. Deep down there was this knowing that something had happened and my lady was not the same person who left in that midnight.

After so many days I saw her face. She turned paler. Her glowing skin got tanned but the ever-loving spark of eyes was there that made me fall in love with her for the first time. There was this speculation in house that she left her job. I got worried but relieved instantly. Hope emerged. May be this time she have found the answer…

And she did!

Few days later she came but this time with sketchbook, paints and brushes. I couldn’t hide my surprise and slightly shacked in shock. That didn’t prove momentarily. She kept coming every single day, as if it’s the only work she has to do. Ah! I waited for this moment for so long. She would sit at me all day long doing sketching or painting. How much I cherished those moments. I have never seen that contentment in her face all those years. Although her paints and knife smeared me all but that’s my added beauty, isn’t it. It took her long path and even a giant mountain to come to her true self. She was overjoyed doing what she’s meant doing. So was I.

May be someday God will grant me words to tell her: “how much I love you and waited for this time when you embrace your path devotedly. For all other people I may be a non-living coffee table but am I not created by same Hands who created you? Same thread of life that runs through you runs through me too. I can feel, sense and praise my Lord too. It’s He who sent me to serve you even when all my fellow chairs were gone but I stood alone—strong. I was His constant reminder to you—a missing piece of puzzle. Only when you have lost all your hope you found me, who was there waiting for you to return one day. Together we saw a dream and together we will see the dawn of your glory that I still feel in the sands of time.

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