7 tubes hooked her 83 year-old body to some kind of support or another. There were no signs of improvement. She was declared brain dead by the doctors. Only a miracle could save her.

Her dearest one visited her every day. He would spend some time with her. Try to make her smile. Say sweet nothings into her ears. Yes, at 80 but their love was tender, exciting, passionate – as if they were teenagers. As days passed by, he could see the futility. But he’d come every day. He’d pray.

She was brain-dead. There were no signs of improvement. Only a miracle could save her. He could end her prolonged non-existence. But then, he’d have to mourn. Because there was hope, he couldn’t mourn. That mourning would mean it is really over. “Mourn it,” he told himself, “it is really over.”

This reminded him of the time after their best friends, Anu and Samar had almost broken-up. Together they had felt Anu and Samar’s pain. They shuddered at the thought of going through it themselves.

It was the usual routine. Anu and Samar wanted different things from the relationship; they were on their toes as far as the relationship was concerned; there was no comfort; on a day-to-day basis it was just too painful. But, they kept it going, trying their last-ditch effort. Over and over again, for days, weeks, months. It was futile, he could see it. He had to do the miserable job of telling them.

He told Anu and then Samar, “This is like a relationship in a coma, on its deathbed. The daily attempts at keeping it going are like daily visitors in a hospital. The superficial, forced conversations are like artificial machines that keep the person alive.

The relationship is soul-dead. There are no signs of improvement. Only a miracle can save it. They were only prolonging its non-existence. They’ve to mourn it. Because there was hope, they couldn’t mourn. Mourn it, it is really over. ”

Three people had the same question – “What if a miracle happens?”