By The Ellisbridge

It was a gloomy Sunday night. The moon peeked from behind the clouds, afraid to be seen too much. Two silhouetted figures sat on the paved riverfront with the cold waters of the Sabarmati reflecting the clouds. "Are you sure about this?" asked one of them. The speaker was a lady. "It is the only way, Aisha," returned the other in a dull baritone. Aisha's eyes were visibly sore; her kajal had smudged off giving her a fiery look. She trembled as she uncovered an infant dozing on her lap, silently running her fingers along his hair. A tear escaped her eyes. "Come now, it will be over soon," soothed her companion. "I know, Abha, I know. We are finally going to be happy and free," Aisha stuttered. Abha kissed her and wrapped Aisha in her arms. They both sobbed for a while. Abha spoke, "They won't miss us, love. You and me, we don't fit here. Maybe loving you was indeed a grave sin as they say it is, but one, at such, that I'm willing to suffer for." Aisha smiled.

She took out a lipstick and applied it on Abha's lips. Abha blushed and did the same to Aisha. She picked up a paper plate lying nearby and scribbled on it with the lipstick: "We have left this world to live with each other. The world did not allow us to stay together." Aisha put out her palm. She took the stick and began etching on the hard floor: "This world did not allow us to stay together. When will we meet again? When will we meet.. perhaps in the next birth we will meet again." The words shone ghastly in the dim glow of the night as if an unspoken treaty written in blood. The lovers stood up from where they sat, the baby still in Aisha's arms. Abha silently unwrapped her dupatta and then wrapped it around both of their waists together, pulling Aisha closer towards her.

"Aisha..." her words trailed off. Aisha took one last look at her baby, pecked his forehead and flung him into the river. "I love you.." said Aisha. "I love you," Abha replied. They kissed and embraced each other, letting their bodies fall sideways into the chilling waters of the Sabarmati. Silence. All that remained was a wrist watch lying on the pavement. "2:30"- it read. The watch had stopped ticking moments ago, as three souls had run out of time. Time to love, time to live.

– mrigankadas

— Dedicated to Asha Thakor(30), Bhavna Thakor(28) and Megha(3). The two lesbian lovers killed themselves on the night of June 11 after persistent problems arising from their families. Read here: https://www.google.co.in/amp/s/www.indiatoday.in/amp/india/story/gujarat-lesbian-couple-commits-suicide-with-child-leaves-behind-haunting-notes-1257262-2018-06-11

DISCLAIMER: The above piece is merely a fictional reconstruction of the incident and should be treated as such.