Before Their Chair Becomes Empty

We often assume there will always be another call, another meeting, another chance to say what matters. In the weekend special edition of 'From the Silence Within', Santosh Nair reflects on gratitude, relationships and the quiet regret that can begin when “later” suddenly disappears.

There are people whose importance we understand only after their chair becomes empty. While they are with us, their presence becomes part of the furniture of life. We expect their phone call. We expect their voice from the next room. We expect that one day we will sit together again, have tea, finish the conversation we left unfinished. Because tomorrow has always been available to us, we keep postponing today. We say, “I will call later.” “I will meet him next week.” “There is plenty of time.” Then one day, time quietly removes the word “later” from our vocabulary.

Distance has a strange way of teaching value. When someone moves away, we suddenly remember the small things we never noticed when they were close. The way they laughed. The question they always asked. The food they liked. The irritating habit that once annoyed us and later became something we would give anything to hear again. We often think we miss the person. Sometimes what we really miss is the ordinary life we had with that person, a life we did not know was precious while we were living it.

Read more: When the Book and Your Eyes Disagree

Relationships can become thin through small........

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