A New Beginning, A Reason For Living

Dark clouds had been ruling the sky all day, looking unrelenting as ever even as the night approached. Sameer rang the doorbell, brushing the glistening drops of rain off his black jacket, standing outside his home.

He shook his head as he recalled that his sister, Shruti, wouldn't be home that night, not till the wee hours at least. Fumbling within his bag, he managed to retrieve a bunch of keys.

The door clicked open softly as he slipped in the key and turned the knob, letting himself inside, quickly shutting the door behind him. The hallway was dimly lit. He shivered a little as a draft of warm air hit his handsome face. The radiator had been left on. He rolled his eyes, inwardly blaming Shruti.

A strong whiff of baking caught him by surprise. Sniffing appreciatively, he made his way to the kitchen, taking off his damp jacket.

“You said you’d not be home before 8! What are you doing here at 7?” hearing Aaina’s voice, he turned around so fast that he nearly gave himself a crick in the neck.

“I was supposed to pick you up for dinner from your home. What are you doing here at all?” he asked, amazed, as she walked up to him.

Standing on her toes, she wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him. He kissed her back, slowly and gently, but intensely, tightly embracing her. She pulled away several seconds later to take a good look at him.

“The meeting ended earlier than we had anticipated. So, here I am.” Sameer answered her earlier question, his eyes roving over her face, gauging how she was, without actually asking the question.

Aaina was in a knee-length, velvet midnight-blue dress that shimmered with the slightest movement she made, accentuating her dark eyes and creamy skin.

“You love home-cooked meals. So, I took the day off. Shruti had plans with her friends, and gave me the keys willingly. So, here I am.” she smiled, looking into his gorgeous chocolate-brown eyes, stroking his jet-black hair.

He leaned in and kissed her again as she wiped off a stray water droplet on his neck.

“I missed you, too.” she breathed against his lips, replying to his unspoken feeling.

He smiled and nodded. It had been two weeks since they had last met.

“Why aren’t you wearing any shoes?” Sameer questioned, incredulous, as he noticed her walk barefoot into the kitchen.

“I was getting ready when I heard you waltz in. So, I thought ‘fuck the shoes’ and came out to meet you. Besides, the central heating is on.” she chuckled, pointing toward one of the vents.

Sameer laughed as he followed her.

“Go freshen up. Don’t follow me around like a lost puppy.” she chided him playfully.

“But, I love to watch you cook.” he complained, following her nevertheless.

“I’ve done all the cooking, and the baking. I just need to frost the cake.” she told him, maneuvering her way around him to and from the fridge.

Completely engrossed in decorating her precious cake, she looked extra charming. When he was assured that she wouldn’t need anything else, he snaked his arms around her waist, resting his chin at the base of her neck. Her soft brown hair had a lingering sweet scent to it.

She felt him plant a chaste kiss on her hair. She smiled and smeared a blob of buttercream icing on his nose.

“I don’t care.” he chuckled, snuggling closer.

“Noooooooo!” she squealed, getting away just in time before he could transfer the frosting from his nose onto her neck and hair.

“Go, get cleaned.” she said, pushing him out of the kitchen.

“And, you get some footwear on.” he said, grabbing her hand, dragging her along.

She pecked on his cheek before almost pushing him into the bathroom.

“Hey! Don’t change into your pajamas!” she yelled from outside after wearing her white fuzzy bunny slippers.

“What? Why?” he asked, poking his head out as he half opened the door.

“I don’t want my dinner date to be in his PJs.” she rolled her eyes and glided out of his room.

It was nearly 8 pm when Sameer turned up at the dining table where Aaina was setting the table for dinner. He was in a jet black tuxedo, tailored to perfection.

“Finally. I thought you had fainted in there, or something.” she joked.

“Haha.” he said, sarcastic.

“I know, right?” she laughed, anyway, “You look delectable, by the way.” she said, pulling him by his neck-tie.

“Wow! Now that’s a compliment you don’t get every day.” he laughed, kissing her.

“How was your day?” she asked, getting back to laying the table.

“The usual. Mad clients, stupid colleagues, ignorant boss.” he answered, helping her.

“And, sane, sensible, know-it-all you.” she snorted.

“Of course.” he chuckled, “How was yours?”

“Oh, I slept till noon knowing I had to toil away in the evening,” she snickered, “then I came here.”

“So when you were chatting with me at lunch, it was from here?”

“Guilty as charged.” she grinned, displaying a set of perfect white teeth.

“You’re amazing, you know.” he said, as they both sat down for dinner.

“I know. Thanks, anyway.” she laughed, again.

He gazed at her cheerful face. She was the one who had brought fun, laughter, happiness, and life back to his life.

“Look, your favorite.” she said, taking off the lid of a small white casserole, revealing baked bell peppers and tomatoes.

He looked at her face,

“You really do hate me, right?”

“What happened, sweetie? Something wrong?” she looked radiant, and extremely serious.

“You deserve an Oscar.” he said rolling his eyes, snatching the lid from her hands, and re-placing it on the bowl.

Sameer, in fact, hated bell peppers and tomatoes to the core. Aaina knew this, and she wasn’t someone who’d pass an opportunity to play a prank.

Aaina cracked up at his comment, laughing uncontrollably. He watched her for a while before joining in.

“Oh, God! Your expression was worth it, Sameer!” she said, in between laughs, dabbing the tears at the corner of her eyes with the table napkin.

"Yeah, yeah." he muttered.

“Everything else is your favorite, I promise.” she smiled, air-kissing him.

“And, what about your favorite?”

“You. Delectable, remember?” she retorted, as she began loading up his plate with food.

                                                    * * * * *

“Are you sure you wanna watch this? You don’t even like this movie.” Sameer asked as they settled on the couch before his giant LED tv.

After a long dinner of inconsequential talks and sumptuous food, they had gone out for a stroll after changing into more comfortable clothing. It was 10:30 pm when they had finally returned.

“I don’t wanna watch, actually. I just wanna snuggle.” she told him, cuddling closer to his seated form, as he draped a blanket over both of them.

Just thirty minutes into the movie, he felt Aaina’s breathing slow down and even out. She inched closer still, as she went deeper into blissful slumber.

Sameer kissed the top of her head, lowered the volume, and watched on for a while, sighing happily. A little later, he too felt drowsiness overpowering him. Carefully scooping up his sleeping girlfriend in his arms so as to not wake her up, he went to his bedroom. Ever so gently, he laid her down on the bed, covered her with the duvet, and slipping in beside her, he hugged her close to himself. Soon he was fast asleep.

He felt her stir after what seemed only moments to him.

“What’s wrong?” he asked groggily.

Aaina had woken up as if on cue. Hundreds and thousands of fireworks echoed, one after the other, each one momentarily lighting up the midnight sky.

“Oh, look!" she said, signaling toward his spherical LED alarm clock.

It displayed 12:00 in a soft cyan color.

"Happy 2014, sleepyhead!” she wrapped her arms around him, giving him a warm and tender kiss.

“To you, too, love.” he whispered, huskily.

            * * * * *

There's Holes in the Floor of Heaven

The twilight sky was dark gray as the rain poured down.

He watched her giggle and dance merrily in the garden, her wavy hair messily framing her face. She ran around, enjoying the sound of the splashing water. Her prized glittery pink umbrella lay abandoned beneath a huge fir tree, currently sheltering a squirrel. Noticed the tiny creature, she ran towards it. The squirrel climbed up the tree, scared.

"Aw." she pouted.

"You scared it." he laughed.

"I am scary?" she questioned, surprised, her eyes bulging out.

"Of course not, my princess," he answered, "the squirrel is just paranoid."

"Oh." she grinned, "Silly thing! I mean no harm." she danced away again.

She continued having fun in the deluge while a cold wind started blowing.

His body shuddered involuntarily. It was getting too cold.

"Let's go inside now, princess." he caught her from behind.

"Already? Why?" she pouted, again.

"It's getting colder, sweetheart. You'll fall ill." he said softly.

"But, but... What if it does not rain again?" her face showed genuine fear.

"You'll see many such and more beautiful days," he hugged and kissed her, "But we've to go inside now."

She continued to pout, jutting out her lower lip as far as possible.

"We'll watch your favorite movie, come." he pulled her gently.

Her beautiful black eyes lit up once again, she smiled and dimples adorned her cheeks.

"That sounds fun! And, I want popcorn and cheese and nachos and cheese and..." she prattled on as they went inside.

"Why don't you change while I get your popcorn and cheese and nachos and cheese and-?" she ran away to get into dry clothes just as he started speaking.

By the time he returned to the living room from the kitchen, she had already settled on the sofa while the beginning credentials rolled up on the TV screen.

"More fun time! Yayie! Come here, quick." she called out to him, patting a spot beside her, her favorite soft toy clutched to her chest.

"Lemme get a blanket as well. We don't want to catch a cold, do we?"

She shook her head, grinning.

"You munch these till then, munchkin." he smiled, giving her all she had asked for.

When he returned with the blanket barely a couple of minutes later, he found her sleeping soundly, curled up where she was sitting.

He switched off the TV, put the blanket around her and carried her to the bedroom.

He lay her gently on the bed, his shirt held in her tiny delicate hand. He kissed her hand as he pulled away his shirt from her grasp.

Tears rolled down his cheeks as he was reminded of someone. The incident had happened many years ago, but it was still fresh in his mind, as though it were just yesterday...

It was the same bed to which he had brought her when she had fallen asleep on the same sofa, in the same spot while watching the same movie, on a similar rainy evening.

He had been feeling restless all this evening. All the events had only made her absence even more unbearable.

"Daddy?" said the little girl who had woken up as quickly as she had fallen asleep.

"Yes, sweetie?" he asked, trying to hide his tears.

"Are you thinking about mommy, again?" she asked, sitting up, tears in her eyes.

"Yes." he sighed and he could not stop his eyes from spilling forth his emotions.

"Please don't cry, daddy." the little girl said, wiping his tears with her tiny hands even as she herself sobbed.

"She loved you, daddy, a lot. And, she loved me. And we love her, and we won't ever forget her." she said.

"Yes, we will never forget her." he tried to smile as he kissed her little hand and hugged her.

Aadhya, their daughter was only five when her mother, his wife, had died two years ago. Her name, Aayushi, seemed ironical to him now.

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.

But You'll Always Be My Hero

"So, you really love him, eh?" he said, sitting on a gray bench on a gray winter evening, out in their immense garden.

"Yes." she said simply, looking into his unreadable face.

"Are you sure about this?" he questioned umpteenth time.

"You know how I am always confused about everything?" she asked and he nodded, "Well, this is one of those few things that I am truly confident about. He actually loves me, tho' it has been really hard for me to believe it."

"Nonsense." he commented, "I mean," he began in reply to her raised eyebrow, "You are absolutely lovable. I don't think there's any guy who'd come into contact with you and not fall in love with you." he smiled, gently.

"You are biased." she chuckled, "Trust me, there are guys who don't love me. Brian, for example? He's such a good friend and thankfully, not in love with me."

"He's your friend, I know. And, I've always suspected him to a bit gay, anyway." he laughed.

"How can anyone be a bit gay!" she laughed along with him.

His laughter died down after a few seconds and she saw his eyes shining.

"Are you okay with this?" she asked, concerned, squeezing his hand.

"I am okay with every thing that makes you happy, honey." he smiled bravely, fighting the tears that were threatening to escape, "Well, not every thing, but you get my point." he laughed, again.

"I love him and I love you, too." she said, still holding his hand, her grayish green eyes boring into his light gray ones, "And, I want you to know something. I may meet anyone, I may go anywhere, I may love anyone; but,"

"But?" he prodded, when she paused.

"But, you'll always be my hero, daddy." she whispered, smiling, tears choking her voice and staining her cheeks.

He smiled the only honest smile of the evening and kissed his daughter's forehead, wiped away her tears and hugged her tightly, his eyes closed, letting his own tears fall freely.

I Still Feel You Like I'm Right Beside You

It was a gray winter evening. She held the coffee mug firmly with both her hands, deriving warmth, as she looked out the open window, not really seeing the present.

"But your mug is empty, Aunt." stated Maggie, as she settled close to her aunt, with her own cup of hot chocolate.

"Yes, dear, like my life. But, it's full of your Uncle's memories, again, like my life." she smiled gently at her niece.

Her husband had passed away, nearly ten years ago, in a fire that had consumed their home and her life. All their worldly possessions and her world, had perished; save this coffee mug that belonged to him. She had found it amongst the charred remains, a little chipped but somehow, basically intact.

It was the only tangible memory she had of him now, the only material thing which held all the other memories, the only physical connection to her past.

Can't Help It If I Wanna Kiss You In The Rain...

"Where are you taking me, Virat? And, I've been wearing this sleep mask for hours!" said Diya, exasperated.

It was a late winter night and they were in a private, chauffeur-driven, black Mercedes which was taking them to a destination that was a surprise for her.

"The flight was of forty minutes and we've been in this car for only ten minutes. Clearly, not even one hour has passed! You exaggerate a lot, Diya." Virat rolled his eyes, laughing.

She punched whatever part of his body she could blindly reach.

"And, I can barely hear what you're saying. Also, why am I wearing these earphones, again?" she fretted, trying to remove them.

"Oh, don't be ridiculous. You need to listen to some soothing music, Miss Psycho." he joked, pulling away her hands from the earphones. "Just trust me." he kissed her forehead.

It was almost midnight when Diya and Virat reached a tastefully decorated apartment after an actual hour.

"It's getting on my nerves now, Virat. This isn't funny." she said, unaware of where they were and why.

"It isn't supposed to be funny, love." he whispered softly.

He made her sit on a beige couch in the bedroom and opened the french window leading to a huge balcony.

"Can I stop this music, please? My head will start aching. Don't complain then and I won't let you fuss over me." she pouted, her arms across her chest.

"Don't open your eyes." she felt his warm breath on her right ear and a shudder ran down her spine.

She let out a huge breath of relief when he gently slipped off the sleep mask, making him laugh.

"If you cheat-" he began.

"I won't!" she cried before he could get all the words out of his mouth.

"Good." she felt his fingers linger on her neck before removing the earphones.

"Really?" she questioned, miffed, when he placed his hands firmly on her ears, shutting out only infinitesimally less 'natural music' than the earphones.

"Yeah." he said and she could see his sexy half-smile in her mind which was exactly his expression at that moment.

She just harrumphed in reply.

"Come." he guided her, carefully, still covering her ears.

"See, and hear." he said in his husky voice as he removed his hands from her ears and placed them gently around her waist.

She opened her eyes quickly and looked around.

They were standing in the balcony, dimly and beautifully lit by little aromatic votive candles, their flames dancing in the cold wind that was blowing.

He held out his hand, wordlessly and they quietly walked further towards the centre, beneath the velvety black sky. It was drizzling making her body tingle. Her just-back-to-work eyes hadn't noticed the rain before.

"Virat-" she began.

"Happy birthday, beautiful." he smiled his heart-melting smile.

Cupping her face in his warm, wet hands, he kissed her.

Even as they stood there, kissing, clouds thundered loudly and it started raining heavily.

Diya clung to Virat, her arms knot tightly in his hair; his arms snaked around her waist, pulling her as close to himself as possible.

She was reminded of a conversation with Virat that had taken place a couple of months ago. He had been out of town on the only day that it had rained there in the last two months and she had expressed her wish,

"I've heard so much about kisses in the rain. I wish I could kiss you in the pouring rain. I want to be kissed in the pouring rain..." she had said, disappointment and longing coloring her tone.

Virat could feel her smile as they kissed.

"You brought me to another city just for this?" she spoke, inches away from his glorious face, her eyes shining with tears of joy.

"It took a lot of planning," he laughed, "I've been following the weather forecasts of everywhere so damn minutely. And, then there's always the risk involved of the forecast being wrong. I am glad it did not happen this time, else, I would've looked like an idiot."

"What if it hadn't rained?" she asked playfully, still in his arms, both of them still getting drenched.

"I'd have kissed you anyway and hoped for the best." he grinned.

"This is the best." she stated, her head against his chest.

"Yes, I could've asked for no better day than your birthday." he smiled, rubbing her back.

"I love you." she whispered, gazing into his brilliant dark eyes.

"I'll always be there to fulfil all your wishes." he said simply, kissing the top of her head.

"And, when I have no more wishes?" she pouted.

"Silly, you always have more and more wishes." he chuckled.

"Can't you just play along?" she gave him a look that was akin to a child's whom someone refuses to humor.

"You're cute." he said, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"Nevertheless," he began when she tried to push him away, pouting for not being answered, "I love you and I will always be there for you, I will always be there with you." he pulled her close, again.

She beamed and mussing his wet hair, kissed him lovingly.