Life, Written Softly

Reva was in her mid-thirties, married, and living a life she had once dreamt of. A beautiful home, a successful career, and a loving husband. But as the years passed, the dreams she had built seemed to weigh heavily on her shoulders. The love they had once shared as a couple had turned into a routine, and the spark they once had was replaced by a sense of duty and obligation. Every morning, she’d start the day with the usual busy-ness of sending Riddhi to school, preparing the breakfast, packing his lunch, getting ready for work, wondering if this was all there was to life.

Then one day, everything changed.

It was a Tuesday afternoon when Reva met Swastik for the first time. He was her new boss, newly appointed to handle the administrative functions of the growing institute. He was in his early forties, with salt-and-pepper hair and an aura of calm that seemed out of place in their high-pressure work environment. His eyes were deep, filled with a quiet wisdom that intrigued Reva from the moment she met him.

They were introduced in a conference room, and as she shook his hand, she felt an inexplicable connection. It was like she had known him her whole life, even though they had just met. As the weeks went by, they found themselves working closely together on various assignments. Conversations that started about work quickly evolved into deeper discussions—about life, the universe, spirituality, and the search for true purpose.

Swastik was different from anyone Reva had ever known. He didn’t care about promotions or material success. He spoke of integrity at work, honesty of purpose, swore by a work environment that necessarily didn’t vanquish you; he spoke of inner peace, of living with intention, and of the importance of staying true to oneself. At first all this seemed a little too pretentious but soon the genuineness seeped into Reva’s idea of him. His words resonated with her in a way that left her both unsettled and inspired. It was as if he had come into her life at the exact moment she needed him, like a guide sent by some higher power. One afternoon, after a particularly intense brainstorming session, Reva and Swastik decided to grab a coffee together. They found a quiet café and sat by the window, watching the world go by as they sipped their drinks.

“You seem different lately,” Swastik observed gently, his eyes studying her. Reva looked away; her gaze fixed on the rain tapping against the glass. “I’ve just been feeling… lost,” she admitted. “I have everything I thought I wanted, but I still feel empty. Like I’m missing something integral….” Swastik nodded, as if he had expected her to say that. “Maybe you’re not missing something,” he said softly. “Maybe you’re holding onto things that no longer serve you.”

Reva was silent, his words sinking into her like stones. It was a thought she had avoided for a long time—that the life she had meticulously built was not the one her soul wanted, she had started feeling disconnected. From that day on, their relationship deepened. They would steal moments in between meetings, or sit on a park bench during lunch breaks, talking about the things that mattered to them. It was a deeply spiritual bond, one that went beyond words or definitions. Reva found herself opening to Swastik in a way she hadn’t had with anyone in years, not even her husband. But this connection wasn’t romantic. It was something more profound, something that transcended the physical. Swastik seemed to see into her very soul, recognizing her struggles and fears, her hopes and dreams. He didn’t judge her or try to fix her; he simply listened, offering gentle insights that helped her find clarity.

One afternoon, as they sat in the campus garden, Swastik looked at Reva with an intensity she hadn’t seen before. “There’s something I need to tell you”, he said quietly. Reva’s heart skipped a beat. She braced herself, fearing he might confess romantic feelings or suggest something that would shatter their delicate bond. “You’re at a crossroads,” Swastik continued. “And I feel a darkness looming over you, a decision you’re going to have to make soon. But remember whatever happens, stay true to what you know in your heart.”

Reva frowned; confusion etched on her face. “What are you talking about?” Swastik sighed, his expression filled with a sadness she didn’t understand. “You’ll know when the time comes,” he said, and with that, he stood up and left, leaving her with a sense of unease. A few days later, everything came to a head. Reva was at home, going through some financial papers, when she noticed a series of large, unexplained withdrawals from their joint bank account. Her heart pounded as she realized that her husband had been secretly investing their savings in a risky business venture. It was a gamble that could wipe out everything they had worked for. She decided to confront him that evening. He looked surprised at first, then defensive. “I thought it was a good opportunity,” he said. “I wanted to surprise you, to show you that I could provide for us, that I could still make bold moves.”

Reva felt a wave of anger and betrayal wash over her. “You risked that huge an amount of our money without even telling me”, she said, her voice breaking. “How could you make that decision without even talking to me once?” His shoulders slumped, and for the first time, he looked vulnerable. “I didn’t want you to see me as a failure,” he admitted. “I’ve seen you drifting away, and I thought this would bring us closer, give us a fresh start.” Reva realized in that moment how lost both were, each searching for something they couldn’t find in the other. She thought of Swastik’s words, the darkness looming, the impending decision.

The next day, she met Swastik in the park. He looked at her with a knowing expression as she explained everything that had happened. “I don’t know what to do,” she confessed. “I feel like my whole world is falling apart.” He took her hand gently. “This is your chance to decide what truly matters to you, Reva,” he said. “To choose a path that aligns with your soul.” Reva looked at him, tears in her eyes. “How do I even begin to make that choice?” Swastik smiled, a soft, reassuring smile. “By listening to your heart and trusting yourself.”

That night, Reva had a long conversation with her husband. It was painful and raw, but it was also honest. For the first time in years, they talked about their fears, their disappointments, and their unfulfilled dreams. They realized they had been living in parallel worlds, each yearning for a connection that had been lost over time. In the weeks that followed, they decided to seek counselling, to try and rebuild their marriage not out of obligation, but out of a shared desire to find each other again. Reva knew it wouldn’t be easy, but she felt a sense of peace, a clarity she hadn’t felt in years.

As for Swastik, he quietly resigned from his position at the institute. The day that was his last, it seemed he purposefully kept himself busy and Reva couldn’t meet him even once through the day. She came back home with a sense of loss and solitude. After dinner, she sat down to check her mails, and she saw one from Swastik waiting to be read. She quickly clicked on it with a pounding heart, it read, “I was never here to stay. You found your strength; you’ll be fine. Trust in yourself. Always.” Reva never saw him again, but his presence lingered in her life like a warm, comforting light. He had been her guide, her quiet saviour, helping her realize her priorities and saving her from the catastrophe she hadn’t seen coming—not just the financial ruin, but the collapse of her marriage and, more importantly, her sense of self. In the end, Swastik was not her soulmate in the traditional sense, but a kindred spirit, a guide sent to help her find her true path. And as she walked that path, hand in hand with her husband, she knew she had found her way back to herself.