It was perhaps a hotel room. A desk and a chair stood at a corner. A framed painting hung on the wall with a decorative light. The adjoining wall was largely made of glass – one could see trees and cars of various hues in the surrounding colony. Strangely for a hotel room, a cane chair hung from the ceiling, allowing its occupant to swivel and enjoy a panoramic view.

My friend’s wife sat in the chair. 

A bed lay next to the opposite wall, covered with a green sheet. 

My friend’s wife sometimes looked outside, sometimes towards the bed, with an amused expression. Her husband and I were lying on the bed. The husband towards the wall, I towards her.

The husband and wife were very friendly. We discussed how to grow and maintain plants. They certainly had an expertise in the matter. I would have continued, but then I remembered that I had to go down and meet someone for a few minutes.

When I came back, the husband had a plate of food in his hand. He must have ordered food from the room service, I thought. 

His wife, still amused, offered the food. I politely refused. Then it was the turn of the husband. By now an eerie feeling had crept over me. I ignored their request. 

“Take it,” both of them urged in unison.

“No, the time has not yet come,” I firmly declined. They looked at me, amazed and somewhat disappointed.

The dream ended. I realised that my friend had died two months ago. 

I looked at the calendar. Amavasya had begun.