As Yuvika stepped into her room, the familiar warmth of her grandmother's essence seemed to fill the air. She froze in her tracks, her heart pounding in her chest as her eyes landed on the figure sitting on the edge of her bed.
It was her grandmother.
Dressed in the same soft pastel saree Yuvika had seen her wear countless times, she sat with a book resting on her lap, her gentle hands caressing its worn cover. The room was bathed in a soft glow, and her presence felt so real, so tangible, that Yuvika's breath hitched.
"Grandma?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
The older woman looked up, her kind eyes twinkling with the same love and warmth that Yuvika had always known. A soft smile graced her lips, the kind that had always soothed Yuvika's fears as a child.
"Hello, my dear," her grandmother greeted gently, her tone as familiar as the lullabies she used to sing. "Did you make friends with the new people? They seem like a lively bunch."
Yuvika stood rooted to the spot, her mind racing. She blinked rapidly, convinced that the grief and exhaustion had finally caught up with her, conjuring this vivid hallucination. She didn't respond, her lips trembling as she stared at her grandmother, waiting for her to disappear, as all her illusions did.
But the figure on the bed didn't fade. Instead, her grandmother tilted her head, her expression softening with understanding. She set the book aside and stood, moving closer to Yuvika with the same deliberate grace she always had.
"Yuvika," she said softly, her voice steady and reassuring, "I know what you're thinking. You think I'm just a figment of your imagination, a trick your mind is playing on you because you miss me so much."
Yuvika swallowed hard, her throat tight with emotion, but she said nothing. Her grandmother reached out, her touch as light as a feather against Yuvika's cheek. The sensation was startlingly real, sending a shiver down her spine.
"I promised you, didn't I?" her grandmother continued, her tone filled with gentle conviction. "I promised that I'd never leave you. And I never break my promises, my darling."
Yuvika's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. She searched her grandmother's face, looking for any sign that this wasn't real. But there was no flicker of illusion, no sudden disappearance. Her grandmother stood before her, solid and warm, her presence radiating the same comforting energy that had always been her anchor.
"You've returned?" Yuvika finally managed to whisper, her voice trembling with disbelief.
Her grandmother nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Yes, my dear. I've returned. Not in the way you're used to, but I'm here. I told you I would always be with you, and I meant it."
Yuvika staggered back a step, her legs threatening to give out beneath her. Her mind screamed that this was impossible, yet her heart—her heart told her it was true.
Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling over as she whispered, "Grandma… how?"
Her grandmother's smile widened, and she wrapped her arms around Yuvika in a gentle embrace. "There's no need to question it, my child. Just know that I am here for you, always. You're not alone."
The warmth of her grandmother's hug washed over her, and for the first time since her passing, Yuvika felt the faintest glimmer of hope. Though her mind struggled to comprehend the miracle before her, her heart held on to the love she had always known.
Yuvika stood in stunned silence, the reality of her grandmother's presence washing over her in waves. The memory of the morning came rushing back—her grandmother selecting her dress, speaking to her as if nothing had changed. She had convinced herself it was just a dream, a figment of her grief-stricken mind. But now, staring into her grandmother's gentle, smiling face, she knew it had been real.
Her confusion must have been evident because her grandmother chuckled softly, a sound that brought both comfort and a pang of disbelief. "You look like you've seen a ghost," her grandmother teased lightly, though her words carried a bittersweet truth.
"I… I thought it was a dream," Yuvika murmured, her voice trembling. "This morning… when you picked out my dress… I thought I imagined it."
Her grandmother's eyes softened with love. "It wasn't a dream, my dear," she said gently. "Last night, you called for me, holding that bracelet I gave you. How could I leave you alone when you needed me? I promised I'd always be with you, and I've returned to keep that promise."
Yuvika's breath hitched, her emotions a whirlwind of relief, disbelief, and longing. Without thinking, she stepped forward, her arms outstretched to embrace the woman who had been her entire world. But the moment her arms reached where her grandmother stood, they passed through empty air, meeting nothing but the cold stillness of the room.
Her heart sank, and her hands trembled as she pulled them back, tears filling her eyes. "I can't touch you," she whispered, her voice breaking. "You're here, but I can't hold you."
Her grandmother's smile remained, though a trace of sorrow flickered in her eyes. "No, my darling," she said softly, reaching out to brush a stray tear from Yuvika's cheek. To Yuvika's astonishment, she felt the faint warmth of her grandmother's touch, as real as it had always been.
"I can touch you," her grandmother explained, her voice steady and soothing. "But you can't touch me. It's the way things are now."
Yuvika stared at her, the ache in her chest growing. "Why? Why can't I hug you, Grandma? I want to feel you, like before."
Her grandmother's expression softened further, and she reached out to cup Yuvika's face, her touch delicate but undeniably real. "Because I'm not truly alive, my child," she said gently. "I've returned to keep my promise to you, but I'm not of your world anymore. My presence is a gift, and I can only do so much. But know this—I am here for you, in every way that matters."
Tears streamed down Yuvika's face as she nodded, her heart aching with both loss and gratitude. Though she couldn't hold her grandmother as she so desperately wanted, the warmth of her touch and the love in her words were enough to bring a fragile sense of comfort.
"Thank you," Yuvika whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Thank you for coming back to me, Grandma."
Her grandmother's smile widened, and she leaned forward to press a ghostly kiss to Yuvika's forehead. "I'll always be here for you, my love," she said softly. "Always."