Trying hard to smile, she reached out for his hand. She couldn't read his face, Never had been able to. He was not like others. Had his own ingenious style but, she knew him? Knew him well enough to know he was feeling the same. Somewhere behind those cold eyes and rigid face, was a boy, with whom she had fallen in love.

She embraced him. Neither said a word. But then, nothing was left to be said, nothing left to be done. It has been decided. Decided by everyone, except them, God has always been cruel... Still, somewhere at the back of her mind, she said a silent prayer. A plea to the God she had grown up to dislike. An appeal to let this be a bad dream.

Oh! How many times had momma warned her! "No future baby. He will leave out in the cold.” She knew momma was wrong. Always had been, she never regretted her decision. Not even now.

She touched his face slowly, afraid to hurt him. She knows it was last time and this was the last touch. She didn't want to let go. Sighing, she turned to leave. As if on cue, they came forward with a brief glance of sympathy. Or was it a pity? They passed her and reached out for him, those officers in uniform. She couldn't look anymore, but hadn't he prepared her for this? It was as if she had been living in apprehension of this day all her life.

The men bent down to pick up his body. She stared hard to get one last look. Yes. From now on she was a widow, widow of a man hated by thousands, a rebel for some and terrorist for others.

And she finally let go of the tears she had been holding back.