Inception of illusion

“Hey, does this look good?” he paused his walk and turned his attention towards the voice from kitchen. His sister was holding the cake; she baked for their parent’s anniversary. He appreciated his sisters baking skills and continued his walk.

Soon they all gathered in the living room for cake cutting. Even after persuading by them, he sat a little away and opposite to the direction, his parents and sister were sitting. They cut the cake, clapped and congratulated the happy couple. He tried to look content and jovial while they fed the cake to each other. Then a hand tapped on his shoulder making a jingling sound of bangles. He looked across his shoulder and followed the sight of green and golden bangles to the dimpled smile. She was standing there wearing his favorite salwar suit. The twinkling mangalsutra and red bindi on her forehead added to her angelic beauty. Her sight cheered his face as lit. “Come, let’s feed the cake to mom and dad” and she pulled him out of the chair. They both fed the cake and took his parents blessings. His sister pulled her phone and asked everyone to gather for a family selfie. The entire family stood together with him putting his one arm across his mother and other across his wife. After few clicks, she showed the pictures to her brother. He swiped the pictures back and forth with wide eyes as if he is looking for something in them. “Ain’t the pictures good?” his sister quizzed looking at his expressions. “Look, how beautiful this picture is, all four of us together” she said pointing at a picture. “Four of us!” he exclaimed.

He couldn’t find her in the pictures. She was missing from the family picture. No, she was missing from the family. No, wait, she was missing from his life altogether.

He was stuck in the inception of his illusions.