A month had passed since April’s wedding, and life had settled into its usual routine. During this time, there had been no word from Sid. Thoughts of reaching out to him had crossed Trisha’s mind, but she found herself at a loss for words.

Trisha’s mother was delighted to see her daughter getting back on track. However, she couldn’t help but worry about the long hours Trisha was putting in at work. She viewed it as a sign that her daughter needed a break, and so she invited Trisha to join her at a family gathering. “Trisha, everyone will be thrilled to have you there,” her mother said. “When was the last time you spent time with the family?” In an attempt to please her mother, Trisha agreed. She loved her family, but there was one aspect that never failed to irk her – their persistent attempts to turn her single status into a married one. She had grown weary of explaining that she led a fulfilling life even without a husband, but they just didn’t seem to understand particularly her mother’s generation.

As they gathered at the event, Trisha’s mother sat with her aunts, sharing laughter on the couch. Trisha was seated next to her cousins, who were animatedly discussing their recent travels. One of her cousins chimed in, “You know what you should do, Trisha? Take a holiday and add some sparkle to your life. There’s no one waiting for you at home, is there?”

Trisha chuckled at the notion. “Add some sparkle? That sounds like something you’d find on Pinterest.”

Jaya, her cousin, looked at her, her beautifully made-up eyes beaming. “Trisha, you used to have that sparkle, but it seems to have dimmed since your divorce. Don’t you think it’s time to reignite it?”

Hema joined in, “Jaya’s right, but I say aim for fireworks, not just sparkle.”

Jaya smiled, “Well, first things first, she should find her sparkle.”

Trisha looked at them both and admitted, “You’re right. I lost my sparkle when Karan betrayed me. I felt so hurt, so angry, and full of resentment.”

Jaya offered a reassuring smile. “I think you’re on the path to finding that sparkle again, Trisha. One step at a time.”

Their conversation was momentarily interrupted by Jaya’s son, who politely asked for a drink. Trisha observed as Jaya attended to her family, her husband, and other cousins. It was a bustling party with around 50 guests celebrating her uncle’s birthday.

“He’s adorable,” Hema remarked. “I want to take him home.” Trisha smiled “he sure is”.

Jaya returned with a plate of samosas, which she shared with her cousins. As they indulged in the snacks, Jaya offered some wisdom, “Wounds take time to heal. Take your time, but remember that time doesn’t wait for anyone. At some point, we have to move forward, or we’ll keep going backward.”

Trisha nodded in agreement. “You’re absolutely right. I’ve already taken some small steps, like signing up at the gym.”

Hema complimented her, “Is that why you’ve lost weight? You look great, not that you didn’t look great before. There’s life after a man, you know. Show them, Trish! Find your sparkle. It’s hidden somewhere, it can’t just disappear like that.”

Trisha nodded with determination. “I’ll try, I will.”