He went regularly at her house. He used to ring the doorbell. But she never used to open the door. She used to think " why should I open it? He will just talk things and waste my time. He's free. But am not. I have better things to do."
One fine day, he died.
After three months, it was a newyear's eve. His daughter was planning, this was the day to cheer her mother up. Her mother had been feeling very low since the death of her father. They planned a little get together, with all the relatives, to start the new year with happiness.
Although knowing, how her aunt used to treat her father, the daughter decided to let bygones be bygones and invite her to the celebration too.
But what happened was completely and utterly unexpected.
When her daughter told her aunt about the celebration, her aunt said " I won't attend it. I don't know about you guys, whether you had feelings for him or not, but I had. I won't attend any celebrations "
The daughter's eyes welled with tears at her words. She missed her Dad each day, each hour. He was her sweetheart. Her mother cried all the time. Her brother felt guilt for the times he fought with him. Her family was devastated. But this day was a hope. A hope to smile and start afresh. A hope for her, to make her Mom smile. The celebration didn't meant they had no feelings for him. But they had to move out of it. So she planned it. And now she was hurt. The words of her aunt stabbed in her heart. Tears welled from her eyes. Her voice quivered as she said the next few words " how could you say that? He was my own father was God's sake! Ofcourse we have feelings "
" Don't talk in loud voice to me " was what she got from her aunt.
She was pushed out of the house and the door was shut on her face.
She fell on her knees, outside her house, crying. No one can comfort her. How can she tell her Mom and brother what her aunt did, when they are already devastated and vulnerable. She cried alone. Repeating again and again, " Dad I hope you know, I have feelings for you. I loved you. This celebration was not meant to show that we don't feel. This was just for Mom. To make her come out of the misery of losing you. I hope you understand us Dad. We all love you. We all do. "
She sat there for hours. Crying. The newyear eve meant nothing to her now. The words remained in her mind and heart. She could share with no one.
Months passed, years passed. The words are still fresh in her mind. No new year will be good for her now.
Inside her house, the aunt was relieved and happy " Thank Goodness! He died. No more listening to his nonsense chatter"