Quest for the Past

This post is written in response to the Write Tribe’s Wednesday Picture Prompt–

His eyes took time to adapt to dim light in the room. It was just the moonlight that has escaped through the curtains, lit the room dimly. He couldn’t switch on the lights else someone would notice and will surely complain to him. He didn’t want this to happen. He quietly closed the door behind him and his search began. He started looking in every drawer; in cupboard drawers, bedside drawers, study table drawer. But couldn’t find anything. How is it even possible? Thoughts ruining his reasoning. His hopes were shattered. He had expected atleast something to find, atleast a photograph.
Disheartened, he sat in the chair.
He will be turning 15 this weekend and he hasn’t seen her in his entire life. He never got a reply to the question ‘why’.
Smriti was her name. The only thing he knew about her. There hasn’t been a single mention of her, in his waking memory.
Suddenly his gaze stuck at the drawer he hasn’t check because it was locked. Now all his thoughts focused on where the key to this lock could be. His gut feeling made it sure that this drawer certainly had something. Answers to his unanswered questions. Frantically he got up, looking for a key. He checked everywhere- in all the drawers, below the pillow, beside the lamp, inside briefcase, even inside the coats’ pocket! He didn’t want to miss any chance. But to his disappointment, he couldn’t find the key. He glanced at the watch. He had just 10 minutes more and his time would be up. His mind told him to leave and try again next time but his heart wanted him to try once more.
As he racked his brain cells, his eyes scanning the room in desperation, and then his gaze stuck at the only photo-frame in the room. It had his childhood photo with trophy in his hands and smile on his face. He picked up the photo and the key fell down on the floor!
Phew!
What a place to hide the key, he thought.
10.55pm.
He would be back any moment now!
Hurriedly, he picked up the key and walked towards the locked drawer. His heartbeat louder than drum-roll.
He was about to open the drawer when the door knob clicked and someone switched on the light.
“Oh, I didn’t know someone was in here! A son snooping in his dad’s room?”, said the man sarcastically.
He was speechless.
“Dad… Actually…”, he stammered.
“Looking for this?” He took out the photo from his wallet and gave it to his son.
He reluctantly took the photo.
There she was. His mother. The word beautiful would have been  an insult to her divine grace.
He glanced up to see tears in his father’s eyes. And again the same question escaped, “why?”