The woods at the end of the path

Avanti walked into what looked like woods inhabited by beautiful trees with a blue hue. She wasn't sure what to expect.

All around her, she saw people talking. Some were crying, some argued, while others hugged each other with either tears marring their faces or laughter adorning them.

At first she didn't pay any attention to what they were saying. She only took in the beauty of the strange fauna surrounding her.

But soon, she began to notice that these people were apologising, confessing wrongdoings and admitting feelings - both good and bad. She realized that they were saying things they couldn't bring themselves to say while they were still alive.

"I love you! I'm so sorry I never had the chance to tell you!"

"I'm proud of you, my dear. I was always so strict because I wanted you to be tough. But I wish we had spent more time together."

"I've always despised you. Who do you think you are making decisions for everybody?"

Avanti noticed just how loud this cacophony was. All of these emotions spilling over in a single tidal wave. The sound of desperate relief felt by those who had died with their lips sealed.

She had just started to wonder who would want to meet her here, when she saw her sister walking towards her.

Her older sister. Meghna. Always well put together, always poised and ladylike. Their mother's favourite daughter for all those reasons.

However, at the moment, she seemed to have shed all her proper feminine delicacies. She was in jeans and a shirt, as opposed to the pretty dressed she has always worn. On her feet she wore simple low heeled shoes, instead of stilettos.

"Hello, sister!", she said as she approached Avanti with a tentative smile. "I've waited long for you. But now that I think about it, I'm glad it took you so long. I trust you lived a happy life."

"Yes. I did actually. Aditya and I were so very happy."

The two sister were now standing close to each other.

"But Meghna, I'm so sorry for.... for how you had to..."

Avanti found that she couldn't quite form the words to describe the horror and heartbreak she had felt when Meghna had ended her own life. Her husband's continued infidelity had broken something in her. And Avanti had been crushed with guilt over not reaching out to her sister.

"Oh don't worry about that!", Meghna said with a wave of her hand, "I did see Varun here just a few years ago. You should have seen his face! Gave him a piece of my mind, I did."

Avanti let out a small chuckle through her tears. And after decades apart, the two sisters finally hugged.

"I'm sorry Avanti. I'm sorry I couldn't be a better sister to you."

"No... Megha. You don't have to apologise. I don't hold the past against you at all. I only wish we could have had more time together."

"As do I, sister.", Megan now had a contemplative look on her face, "I had time to think about this. And I have now realised that mother would pit us against each other. Perhaps to keep us busy fighting each other, so neither of us would catch on to her narcissistic tendencies."

"I've reached the same conclusion.", Avanti took a look at her sister's attire and added, "Meghna, you're dressed differently."

"Ah yes! You can dress how you want here. And I've always wished I could choose comfort over style like you. In fact, I wish I could have done a lot of things the way you did them. You lived life on your terms, Avanti. And you never cared what anyone thought. I always admired that, but could never bring myself to tell you."

Avanti held her sister's hand and said, "I admired you too you know. Your grace, your quiet strength. You're a good person Meghna. Never doubt that."

Meghna embraced Anavti one more time, and said, "I must go now, sister. It is time for me to move on. I think you might stay a while. I know you'd want to see Aditya one last time. You'll know when he's here. Give him my love when he arrives, yes?"

"Of course!", Avanti answered before Meghna walked into a tunnel of light.

When her sister disappeared from view, Avanti decided to walk around and explore the forest. She hoped she would have to wait a long time for her dear husband to arrive, before she could tell him how much she loved him. Just one more time.