Memories in Reflection

(Based on true story)

Ah what a day! Ms. Jen from left desk calls her. “Sushmi, can you help me with this?” “Sure. What it is?” Sushmi nods. “Send those files to Mr.Mark.” “Ok, I will” She says with small silent smile. She walks towards the room and knocks the door. “Come in.” “Hello Mr.Mark. Here is the file.” She puts it on the desk. I am glad you came through. I was about to ask someone to tell you but I don’t need it anymore.” “What is it sir?” Her face lit up with curiosity. “Sushmi, you are gonna work with Mr.John for the planning of M&P lipstick product. You are gonna meet him tomorrow.” “Yes sir.” She replied firmly. She goes back to her desk. She starts working on the computer. Time passes. She checks out and starts walking towards apartment. She hears a ringing sound. She tooks the phone out from her bag. She picks up the call “Salam baba.“. “Salam.” Her dad replies.

“How are you? How mom is doing?”

“We are doing fine. How is your work going?”

“Fine I guess.”

“Are you not feeling well?”

“Not like that baba. It is just the work is same as usual.”

“When are you coming to home?”

“Dad I am busy with work. I will come as soon as I finish it.”

“Your mom has cooked your favourite food but you are not here.”

“Dad I will come for sure now.”

They shared laughs together. It has been long time since she had seen her parents. College and works always has been stressing her up. She goes home. She freshes up. After finishing her dinner, she sits on the couch. She turns on the tv. There is a tv series going on about one sided love story. A girl who is in love with a boy but never got the chance to confess. She browses through channels. Then she goes back to sleep. She wakes up in the morning and brushes teeth. She dressed up and heads towards to the office. She goes to office. She sits in her desk. After setting everything up she starts to prepare document for meeting. She takes documents on hand. She goes to the meeting room and sees Mr.John sitting there. “Hello Mr.John I am Sushmi. “Yes, I have heard of you. It is a pleasure to meet you.” Mr.John smiles. She shows him the documents she has prepared. “What do you think? Would our product planning should be based on Gen z?” “I think all generation should be included?” “But we only have limited colors.” “Maybe we can try online advertisements. That way anyone can reach our product.” “Not a bad idea let’s work on it.” She texts after work “Dad I got my first project. I am so happy.” “Me and your mom are proud of you.” Dad texts back. This is office dinner time. Everyone is present here. People are talking about various topics. Food comes in. They start eating and drinking. “I have been busy lately. While doing work I even forget about myself.” Nimi sighs. “Me too. I have this project coming up. Now I gotta finish it. After I finish it I will take a leave and meet my parents.” Sushmi adds to the conversation. “Ahh the worklife. Let’s toast on this boring worklife.” Marina chimes in. They toast with their drinks. After the office meeting she greets bye to everyone and heads towards the home. It’s morning today. A breeze is slowly blowing all around the room. She cooks breakfast. After eating breakfast she turns on the TV. She hears her phone ringing. As she picks up the phone she hears the most world shattering and devastating news. Her father greets her with a Shaky voice. “Last night your mom passed away.” It feels like the world has paused for a long period of time. She manages to calm herself down. She says with a mumbling sadden tone “I will come to home tomorrow.” She says bye to her dad. Tears streams down her face as she struggles to comprehend the news. She can hardly breath. After that she quickly sends a week-long emergency leaving email to the office. She comes home. Everybody is quiet and filled with heavy sadness. Relatives and neighbors filled in the house. One person informs me, “Tomorrow we will hold your mother’s funeral.” In the morning everyone is present in the field, surrounded by dense trees. A person is reading something from the book. Sushmi stood by her father’s side. She can’t stop crying. So do her uncles and aunts. Dad is completely untalkative. They buried the body. She ramages through her mom’s belongings and finds a letter. She opens up the letter. Her mom shared her discomfort. She wrote “I wish my daughter would visit me. I know she is busy but still I hope she comes back home.“. Tears start rolling from her eyes nonstop and fall in the paper. She deeply regrets not coming back home. If she had come sooner she could have spent the last time with her mom.