A Love Timeless

"My dearest, I'll be at the airport awaiting your arrival. I'll be the one with the poster of your face."

* * * *

Karan walked up the driveway to his parent's house. He had not been back home in almost a decade. The last time he was here was when they held his sister's funeral. He could remember it as if it were yesterday. It was on a hot summer day and everyone was present. The pastor gave his condolences as everyone went their own way. His parents went home to grieve privately, but Karan stayed for a while looking around the place where his sister grew up. There were pictures of her everywhere, but one picture stood out from the rest. It was a picture of Karan and his sister together at the beach. They looked so happy in it and she looked so beautiful. Her hair blew slightly into her face and Karan put an arm around her shoulder while looking ahead smiling at the camera with full dimples. Karan stared at the picture for a long time before placing it back on the wall.

When he left that day, he felt like something was missing from him since then, and he has never felt that way since then until today, as he entered his parent's house once again. It felt like it has been ages since he had been here and he remembered how empty this house used to feel without anyone in it except for him and his sister growing up. He sat down on the couch, after making himself some tea, waiting for his parents to come home from work; because that's what they always did when he came over to visit them.

His mother walked through the door first wiping her hands off on her pants before approaching her son who was sitting on the couch. She embraced him tight as tears streamed down her face and theirs eyes met briefly before she pulled away slowly looking at him still crying uncontrollably with joy. His father walked through his front door a moment later holding two large bags of takeout food and placed them down on the table before joining his wife in embracing their only son happily after seeing him after so many years apart.

"Karim!" His father exclaimed happily as he hugged him tightly "How have you been?"

"I've been good dad," Karan replied smiling "I've missed you guys so much!"

"We've missed you too sweetheart!" His mother exclaimed "You look just like your sister!"

"Your sister is still alive mom," Karan replied softly but with a cheerful smile on his face "She's doing well."

"Oh thank God," His mother replied sobbing happily "Thank God! I thought she died too! Oh my baby girl‚ please call me sometime okay? Let me know how you've been."