The Ruined Rainbow

CHAPTER 70

Ayesha

The unusual cold winds blew once again, and I shivered slightly. I paused in the act of stroking Sahil's forehead and wrapped the grey stole around me more securely, to make me feel warmer.

I rested my head on the balustrade of the terrace and mildly shook my outstretched legs, to release the stiffness captured within them. The wind howled once more. And I smothered the urge, to crawl my knees inside and derive warmth from them, by wrapping my hands around them. The two empty beer bottles rolled over the floor, making a mild screeching clatter as they had done for umpteen times in the last hour.

I gazed at Sahil who was laying on my lap; his eyes closed, and a benign expression uncovered across his bounteous features. The wind continually ruffled his hairs, and I pushed them back patiently but was repeatedly unsuccessful. A small smile unfolded from my lips.

This absorbing, engaging moment was just a mirage and a delusion. For the actual moments of truths were to unravel any minute now brutally...

Life is weird. Life is eerie. Life is odd. 

It gifts you unexpected things, at unpredictable times in uncertain times. And my life was the best example of that. When I suffered from physical pain and repeated assaults, and I wished nothing more than to die, Life granted me happiness in the form of my dad. When fate made dad depart, life found Aneesh. When Aneesh left; life gifted me Sahil, and with that, it endowed me with priceless gifts cause I managed to regain my lost confidence and strength. Life gifted me power and courage to live.

And now, when I have everything; I am being snatched by life itself...

My life was heading towards a full-stop, and I knew that. And that thought didn't seem as scary as I had expected. It appeared very trivial, for some reason. For, more than embracing death; the idea of leaving Sahil seemed more terrifying and dreadful.

I had already made up my mind to leave Sahil... To part with him... The flame of selfless love had kindled within me and had enforced this decision of mine...

But the parting would be unbearably difficult and brutally tough.

Yet, I had to do it nevertheless, for I couldn't let Sahil suffer for the incompleteness in my life. I couldn't deprive him of happiness for my problems. He had already been in so much emotional trauma, and telling him about my fragile state of life would undoubtedly be foolish... Very foolish... And I could never make myself commit that stupidity.

And I wanted to execute my plan before the gathered strength could weaken... Before the creation of absurd cubicles in my heart once more...

Another gale of wind blew, and my free hand automatically reached to wrap the stole tighter, despite adjusting it for umpteen times.

However, I stilled when I saw Sahil.

Sahil had his eyes closed, but I could see the crease of discomfort arise between his eyes.

Instantly, I unwrapped the stole from my shoulders.

I unfolded the two-folded cloth; to make it longer. I gently place it over Sahil, and my lips carve into a jiggling smile.

"Don't even think about it," Sahil replied sternly, still having his eyes closed. In an unexpected and swift motion; he sat upright, draped the stole around me and before I could analyse,  he was practically lying on my lap again, leaving me utterly flabbergasted.