The Cookie Jar Promise
"Rehan, before I leave for home, I want to gift you something," said Amithi, tugging at his arm as she led him into a nearby Crossword bookstore. They headed straight to the fiction section.
"I’ve never read fiction," Rehan muttered in protest.
"Exactly why you should start. It’s time to pick up something good and drop what’s not," Amithi said, scanning the shelves until her eyes lit up. She reached for a book.
"Here it is! My favourite. You’ll start your fiction journey with this one." She placed the book into his hands, her smile as radiant as ever.
"Till the Last Breath?" Rehan read aloud, flipping through the pages. "You know I don’t like love stories."
"I do," she replied, arching a brow. "Which still makes me wonder how you ever fell for me. But this one’s not just a love story."
"Then what is it?"
"Read it and find out."
"Do I have to read all these pages?" he asked, eyebrows raised.
"Yes. Every page holds its own kind of magic. And I’m giving you two weeks."
"Two weeks? Are you my teacher now? That’s not enough time!"
"If you don’t read it in two weeks, you never will," she said, her tone half-teasing, half-serious.
As they arrived at the railway station, her train pulled in.
"Give me a parting hug," she said, arms wide.
"You’re crazy! Everyone’s watching!" Rehan turned away, though a hug was what he wanted, too.
"Fine. Let’s go back to your apartment then." She stepped forward, hugged him tightly, and planted a kiss on his cheek. "I love you, my dear," she whispered.
"I love you too," he replied softly.
"I didn’t hear that—say it louder!" she called as she picked up her bags.
"I love you too!" he shouted a bit louder.
"I still didn’t hear you!" she teased, stepping into the compartment.
As the train began to move, she stood by the door, cupping her hand to her ear. "Still waiting!" she shouted over the sound of the train.
Rehan speed-dialled her number. "Amithi, I love you. I’ll miss you every day. Come back soon."
"That’s why I gave you the book—to keep me close in my absence. Take care. I’ll be back soon," she said, waving one last time.
He watched the train disappear, then noticed a handwritten note inside the book:
To my love, Rehan. Without you, life is unimaginable. Please read this book. With all my love, Amithi.
A smile spread across his face. He sat on a bench at the platform and started reading. It was unlike anything he’d expected—moving, real, and gripping.
---
The next morning, headlines screamed tragedy. The train had derailed. Seventy-five dead. Sixty-nine injured.
Heart pounding, Rehan called her number. No signal. He tried her brother—no answer. Finally, her father picked up.
"Rehan… she spoke so much about you. We’re on our way to the hospital… if we find out anything, I’ll call you."
"Thank you, Uncle," Rehan whispered, the world spinning.
He turned on the news. The screen was filled with twisted metal, scattered luggage, and lifeless bodies shrouded in white. Survivors searched for loved ones. He wept.
"Please… let her be alright," he begged, a single tear falling.
An hour later, his phone rang.
"We checked the hospital," her father said.
"And?" Rehan’s voice broke.
"We didn’t find her there… so we went to the mortuary… and we found her there."
Rehan dropped his phone. He couldn’t breathe. "I… I can’t see her like that," he whispered, burying his face in his hands. "God took away the only person I truly loved…"
---
Days passed. He finished the book she’d given him—it was the last piece of her he had. He returned to her blog, made note of all her favourite books, and bought them. Her memory lived in those pages.
That night, she visited him in a dream. It felt real.
She kissed his cheek gently.
"Did you like the book?" she asked.
"I loved it," he said, still stunned.
"I saw you bought my other favourites too. Read them. After my last breath, I realized how deeply I loved you. I want to stay close to you, even if you can’t see me."
"You’re always with me," he said.
"Then listen. Let go of what’s harming you—smoking and drinking. You’re wasting your health… and money."
"It’s not that easy."
"That’s why I’m here. When you wake up, empty that big cookie jar and start dropping in the money you'd have spent on those habits."
"And?"
"And stop avoiding mirrors—you’ve gained weight and you look older than your age. Get up early. Walk. Listen to music. Reclaim your life. Oh—and get a pug. I always wanted one."
"I’ll do everything you ask. Just stay with me," he pleaded.
"And one more thing… Dad donated my eyes. A blind girl sees the world through them now. She lost her parents too. I’m glad I could help, even in death."
"I want to meet her."
"You will… once you’ve kept your promises."
Rehan woke with a start. He saw a lipstick mark on his cheek—it was real. He smiled for the first time in days.
---
He emptied the cookie jar, began dropping coins in. He walked daily, music in his ears, grief in his chest. He bought a pug and named him Tracy. The little dog followed him everywhere.
When the urge to smoke hit, he chewed gum instead. He poured all the liquor down the sink.
That night, Amithi appeared again in his dream.
"I’m proud of you, Rehan," she smiled. "Now I know how much you love me."
He woke to two fresh lipstick marks on his cheeks.
He lost weight, joined cooking classes, rediscovered old joys. Eventually, she gave him the address of the girl who had received her eyes.
When he met her, he couldn’t hold back tears.
"Are you okay?" she asked. "Your eyes look teary."
"Just some dust," he said, gazing into her beautiful eyes. "They’re… stunning."
"Thank you. I was blind once. Someone gave me the gift of sight. I’m Adithi. And you are?"
"Rehan."
"Why did you want to meet me?"
He told her everything. She wept as he finished.
"I’m sorry for your loss," she whispered.
"No. She lives on… through your eyes."
He handed her the book Till the Last Breath. "Please read this."
"Will I see you again?" she called out as he walked away.
"Maybe… maybe not," he said, waving.
---
Soon, the cookie jar was full. In a dream, Amithi told him what to do.
"Take it to the same Crossword store. Buy books for everyone there. Share our story. Maybe it'll change lives."
Rehan met with the manager.
"Let’s make it big," the manager said, moved. "Leave it to me."
---
A few weeks later, invitations went out:
"Come hear the story behind the cookie jar! This Sunday at five!"
The store was packed. Rehan shared their story.
"Thanks for listening. Now, pick a book of your choice. I’ll pay with the money from the cookie jar."
Applause filled the air.
"If the money falls short," the manager added, "we’ll pitch in. Rehan has something more to say."
"I quit smoking and drinking because of her. If I could do it, so can you. Let go of what doesn’t serve you."
As people clapped, Rehan spotted her.
Amithi was in the crowd—smiling, clapping, proud.
He smiled back.
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