The Moment Story

Once Upon A Time:

The constellations seemed to smirk at each other. Each one trying to belittle the other one with its pattern. Such was the pattern in their behaviour.

It was midnight and it was the exact same beach. Same pattern. Ann sat there by the shore taking a final look at the stars. They were there at the exact same place as envisioned. Same pattern. And mocking each other. "It does work", she thought.

A tear made a quick appearance on her sand swept turquoise eyes. The heart felt the deep murmur. Hesitation. But she could not let this moment go. She had earned the moment.

With a lot of conviction, she finally turned her neck and looked behind. The corner of the iris felt the presence of a very familiar figure. Her father. He was right there. Pitching up the tent in the white sand. In the Maui sand. At the best beach she had ever known.

It was the moment. With the only man she had ever loved.

She mustered the courage to get up and ran up to the same man with a 12 year old gait.

A Long Time Before Once Upon A Time:

Ann ran to her father and tugged his leg. There was an unknown fear in her eyes.

"What happened to my princess?"

Multitude of tears billowed down the cheeks. He sensed something wrong. She had never cried before. Ever. Confusion enveloped him. But he knew why. In an impulse, he lifted her in his arms and hugged her tightly.

That feeling, that warmth calmed Ann. A few sniffs. It was calm at the beach. They were there alone. At the best beach in the world on a wonderful moonlit night with clear skies.

"You okay, my darling"

"Why did God take away Mommy, Papa?", she whispered still in his arms.

He hesitated. A spasmodic spasm. He patted Ann gently on her back.

"Papa, will you ever leave me?"

He hugged her. He kissed her. He whispered back.

"Never, my child. Never."

That feeling, that warmth.

Indeed, it was a great moment. The best for Ann.

A Few Moments After Once Upon A Time:

Ann ran up to her father and tugged his leg. There was some unknown happiness in her eyes.

"What happened to my princess?"

"Papa, I just want to say that I love you a lot"

An angelic smile beamed on his face. In an impulse, he lifted her in his arms and hugged her tightly.

"Now my 12 year old has grown a lot. Has she been watching a lot of Hollywood?", he retorted back at her playfully, still in his arms.

"Papa, you are the greatest person I have ever known. I waited for this moment all my life, this very moment to tell you this - that I love you a lot."

He found all this a bit bewildering. Confusion earmarked the wrinkles on his face.

"Woah woah woah! What is my little child saying? Are you ok, darling? Is everything alright? Tell Papa what is happening?"

"I do not have much time, Papa. All I need is a tight hug", she whispered.

With that she lunged deeper into his arms and cried.

A Few Seconds Before Once Upon A Time:

The entire world is watching. A loudspeaker blurting.

"The countdown is about to begin. Our winner, the 87 year old Ann MacMahon has just entered the chamber. And is about to embark on her 5 minute journey. We wish her luck."

"5...4...3...2...1..."