He sat on the bed hunched, staring listlessly out into the night.His wheezing was the only sound that broke it's silence .Dawn was about to break but for him, the darkness would persist, he knew it.It hasn't been otherwise, not for quite a while.
Once upon a time, winter used to be his favourite season.Now he dreaded winter.All the chill in the world seemed to find their home in his lungs.His asthmatic attacks would be all the more severe and sleep would seem like an illusion.As usual, he hadn't slept a wink, last night and now his eyes were drooping.Just then, a fresh bout of cough rocked his skeletal frame.The pain threatened to knock out , what seemed to be the last few breaths that he barely managed to gasp. He could take it no more.He flopped back on the bed.He shut his eyes.He lay there wondering how long this torturous affliction would continue to have him in it's constricting grip.He wished he could pray for death.But he couldn't afford to, lest he be blessed! What would happen to her when he was gone? He was the centre of her world, in spite of living in a world full of other people.He had only her, yet she was the one who needed him more than he needed her.She was more than happy to let him know that.At times her unwavering, unflinching devotion to him made him resent her.Why couldn't she see that she was wasting her life on a wasted life? Life was waiting to live her, someone as vibrant and warm as she.On numerous occasions he tried to make her see reason....with cajole, pleas, threats and even emotionally blackmailed her, as the last resort.But reason didn't seem to exist in her dictionary.She clung to him like warmth clings to the winter sun.She seemed to draw life out of him even as life was getting tired of holding on to him.
But enough was enough.He made up his mind to do what he should have done long back.His body protested as he tried to sit up.Even that was not going to stop him him today.He was determined to be firm with her and if need be, outright rude."Let her come," he almost spoke aloud.He glanced at the wall clock.It indicated that she would be there any moment now.He dragged himself to the wash room.When he emerged, he was mildly surprised that she hadn't yet turned up.He walked up to the window and looked up at the sky.It looked gloomy and sombre, as if upset at the thoughts running through his mind.He turned away and once again checked the time.Now, she was late.In fact it was way past her time of arrival.He was dying to have his morning cup of tea.But considering the hell she would raise if he had it without her, he dropped the idea of making the tea.She insisted on making his tea."Mother hen!"...he murmured .He tried to keep his mind off the clock. He failed.His discomfort grew with each passing moment.In the past three years, she has never been late.Gradually, his restlessness increased."But then, why?."...he asked himself. Wasn't he planning to ask her to leave him alone? Wasn't he going to ask her to get a life away from him? Wouldn't it be a blessing in disguise if she never happened to turn up again? At the last thought, he felt a shiver run down his spine.He had been pacing up and down the room.He stopped in his track.But he steeled himself against it.He desperately needed a smoke now.An expletive escaped his lips when he found the pack empty.She had emptied it in the bin.A curse died in his throat.He could wait no longer.He must have that cup of tea.
Just as he was about to enter the kitchen, the front door opened and she sashayed into the room.Her perfume, so typical of her, assailed his senses.She stood at the doorway with a new twinkle in her eyes and a never- before -seen smile on her lips.He stood there , rooted , unable to take his eyes off the vision, as if he had set his eyes on her for the first time.Then something in him crumbled.He took an involuntary step towards her and then another.He stopped only when he had her in his arms, holding her as tight as possible.Through his tears , all he could manage to say was,"Stay".He felt her arms tighten around him.At that moment all other sounds faded, except for the sound of their hearts pounding against each other.But the music of her "Forever" resonated clear and loud.He felt her smile but couldn't see the relief in her eyes.She had come prepared with all the arguments to convince him to let her live with him.Now, she wouldn't have to.She hugged him tighter!
Once upon a time, winter used to be his favourite season.Now he dreaded winter.All the chill in the world seemed to find their home in his lungs.His asthmatic attacks would be all the more severe and sleep would seem like an illusion.As usual, he hadn't slept a wink, last night and now his eyes were drooping.Just then, a fresh bout of cough rocked his skeletal frame.The pain threatened to knock out , what seemed to be the last few breaths that he barely managed to gasp. He could take it no more.He flopped back on the bed.He shut his eyes.He lay there wondering how long this torturous affliction would continue to have him in it's constricting grip.He wished he could pray for death.But he couldn't afford to, lest he be blessed! What would happen to her when he was gone? He was the centre of her world, in spite of living in a world full of other people.He had only her, yet she was the one who needed him more than he needed her.She was more than happy to let him know that.At times her unwavering, unflinching devotion to him made him resent her.Why couldn't she see that she was wasting her life on a wasted life? Life was waiting to live her, someone as vibrant and warm as she.On numerous occasions he tried to make her see reason....with cajole, pleas, threats and even emotionally blackmailed her, as the last resort.But reason didn't seem to exist in her dictionary.She clung to him like warmth clings to the winter sun.She seemed to draw life out of him even as life was getting tired of holding on to him.
But enough was enough.He made up his mind to do what he should have done long back.His body protested as he tried to sit up.Even that was not going to stop him him today.He was determined to be firm with her and if need be, outright rude."Let her come," he almost spoke aloud.He glanced at the wall clock.It indicated that she would be there any moment now.He dragged himself to the wash room.When he emerged, he was mildly surprised that she hadn't yet turned up.He walked up to the window and looked up at the sky.It looked gloomy and sombre, as if upset at the thoughts running through his mind.He turned away and once again checked the time.Now, she was late.In fact it was way past her time of arrival.He was dying to have his morning cup of tea.But considering the hell she would raise if he had it without her, he dropped the idea of making the tea.She insisted on making his tea."Mother hen!"...he murmured .He tried to keep his mind off the clock. He failed.His discomfort grew with each passing moment.In the past three years, she has never been late.Gradually, his restlessness increased."But then, why?."...he asked himself. Wasn't he planning to ask her to leave him alone? Wasn't he going to ask her to get a life away from him? Wouldn't it be a blessing in disguise if she never happened to turn up again? At the last thought, he felt a shiver run down his spine.He had been pacing up and down the room.He stopped in his track.But he steeled himself against it.He desperately needed a smoke now.An expletive escaped his lips when he found the pack empty.She had emptied it in the bin.A curse died in his throat.He could wait no longer.He must have that cup of tea.
Just as he was about to enter the kitchen, the front door opened and she sashayed into the room.Her perfume, so typical of her, assailed his senses.She stood at the doorway with a new twinkle in her eyes and a never- before -seen smile on her lips.He stood there , rooted , unable to take his eyes off the vision, as if he had set his eyes on her for the first time.Then something in him crumbled.He took an involuntary step towards her and then another.He stopped only when he had her in his arms, holding her as tight as possible.Through his tears , all he could manage to say was,"Stay".He felt her arms tighten around him.At that moment all other sounds faded, except for the sound of their hearts pounding against each other.But the music of her "Forever" resonated clear and loud.He felt her smile but couldn't see the relief in her eyes.She had come prepared with all the arguments to convince him to let her live with him.Now, she wouldn't have to.She hugged him tighter!
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