If Only I could turn back time

Nalini gazing into the emptiness, sipped a cup of tea as she sat on the old yet comfy armchair in her balcony. She enjoyed these rare me-times.

There was a phase in life she yearned for a little me-time, but at a tender age she was engulfed by adulthood and slapped with the obligations and deadweight of life. But now at this middle age life has been a little extravagant on her with solitariness. She looked at the calendar hung on the wall across the dining room. It was already 2022, she was going to turn fifty-two this year!! Here she was....retired from work except for the daily chores at home, children away from nest, greying hair and some stubborn fine wrinkles popping up.

“Was I not twenty-two only a few years back? Did someone turn the Time machine or have they newly established that a year has only 100 days not 365 days in a year”, her thoughts astray. Being so engrossed and preoccupied both in career and raising a family, she missed out on the winsomeness of her youth.

 “If only I could turn back the time” she desired. “How I yearn to once again re-live my youth, to look beautiful, to go for that dance class I dreamed, to walk that ramp in college, to hold the Championship Trophy once again, to sit in the college canteen and gossip, complain about the watery curry served in hostel, steal the crunchies from the kitchen mess, laugh out loud on stupid jokes, go and party with friends, take up my dream job, follow my passions, unburdened by life’s encumbrances and only if I could….”

The phone rings loud…. Nalini jumps n reluctantly takes the call. The voice from the other end says “Ma’am just calling from the Rheumatoligist’s clinic to confirm your appointment!!