In a peaceful village lived a loving couple, Meera and Arjun. Arjun was a merchant who often traveled to distant lands for work. One spring, Arjun had to leave for a long journey that would last many months.
Meera watched him go with a heavy heart. As the days passed, the silence of the house felt overwhelming. To keep track of time and cope with her loneliness, Meera began a small ritual. Every evening, she would take a small stone and scratch a single line on the courtyard wall to mark the day Arjun was away.
Weeks turned into months. Meera spent most of her hours sitting by the gate, staring at the dusty road, hoping to see a familiar silhouette. Her eyes, once bright and sparkling, grew tired and dim from constant watching. Her index finger, used daily to scratch the wall, became worn and thin from the repetitive motion.
When Arjun finally returned, he found a Meera who looked much older and frailer. As he held her hand, he felt the smoothness of her worn finger. Looking at the wall covered in scratches and her clouded eyes, he realized that her love hadn't just been a feeling—it had been a physical sacrifice of her very self.
