The Win

Wrapped in a white fluffy towel with her hair tied up, fresh out of the shower she was standing in front of her wardrobe, staring at it blankly.
The room was almost dark. The blinds weren’t open yet, it was just about day break.
“This was supposed to be easy” she whispered to herself as she sat down on the bed.
He ran his finger on her back. Tracing the line the an errant water droplet had left.
“The black one” he said “and the black diamond pendant”
It was a perfect choice for the day she had lined up.
“Go back to sleep” she said, kissing him on his cheek.
“What! No payments for the consult?” He was grinning!
“Add it to the IOU account!” She retorted.
“hmph” he replied grumpily
She picked the black dress that hung in the line of power suits and skirts.
“The shoes we picked from that crazy store in Amsterdam” her favorite voice said half asleep from inside the comforter.
Her day needed a dash of black on it. His choice was perfect.

It was a one of the biggest cases of her career. The butterflies in her stomach were a constant reminder of it. She was prepared to fight it and win it but she was as always a little nervous.
Her usual ride to the office was from the back seat, in complete silence. Today she chose to drive herself.
Dismissing the driver, she took over the controls of the car. Searched her playlist patiently to find the song that she needed to hear, increased the volume to louder than the thoughts in her head and hit the gas.

The courtroom seemed colder than usual, also extremely silent.
I’m not scared to be seen, I make no apologies, this is me” she hummed as she walked towards her team huddled up together.
“How does it look?” she asked the extremely tensed faces.
“We only have closing statements left, it could go either way from there”one of them replied.
“Shouldn’t we have taken the bargain we were getting?” asked a pair of eyes that were holding back more than just pressure.
“There is no bargain on beliefs Missy” She sighed
“The media is going to crucify us, if we don’t make it” another said
“Until we don’t have to die for some else’s sins, I think we will be able to take it” She said as she stood up.
The phone on her table silently flashed a “All the best love”

The court was in session.

“Is the prosecution ready with their closing statement?” said her favorite voice in the entire world
“Yes Your Honor” she replied looking straight at him
She spoke with words that came right out of her heart. Every sentence carrying its weight. By the end of her statement she saw faces around her change. A whole lot of emotions ran free. A pair of eyes on her team had finally let it go.
“Thank you Counselor” His voice was composed and very calming.
She walked back to her seat.
“Is the defense ready with their closing?” He looked at the other side of the room
The defense attorney went on to make his statements to the judge who was not just listening but seeing through each of them too.
“The defense rests” the gentleman had already made his way back

It was the moment of truth for both the sides as the judge began to speak
“After hearing both the sides of the argument very diligently made by the attorneys, the facts compel me to rule in the favor of the defendant”

There was an uproar of voices in the court. The defense was celebrating. Her team was shattered. They had lost.
There was complete silence in her head, she could only hear what his eyes where telling her while not saying a word. He stood up, the courtroom stood up for him and he was gone.

“Chin up guys” she said to her people who were still in disbelief “we know we did our best”
“The media is at the front, would you want to leave discreetly?” her associate asked
“We went to war for something we believed in. We lost. The scars that come from the battleground are not to be ashamed of” she replied
“There is no compulsion for anyone of you to walk with me” she meant every word she said

She walked out to a frenzy of cameras and microphones. Everyone on her team behind her.

The reporters were brutal with their questions. She replied to each of them with a stoic face and a modulated voice. Her demeanor was ice cold.
The questions kept getting nastier in search of a reaction, the reporters were getting frustrated. That only got her more in control of the situation. She wasn’t going to lose this one.
“How does it feel to have Justice Singh rule against you?” one asked
“He did his job well, as I did mine” she responded
“Did he not help with your case?” another one asked
“I did not need help” She replied
“Clearly you did! I mean what’s the point of being with a Judge then?”
“Sir, I wear heels higher than your standards of life” was the last thing she said to them

The team decided they needed to drown the day in cheap alcohol. Her associate asked her if she would want to join them at a dingy watering hole in downtown. She agreed.
“I don’t think they will have premium alcohol you drink” he smirked
“Today deserves cheap rum” she said “I will meet you there”
She walked towards her car, dragging her feet. The heels that had made her feel like she ruled the world were now feeling like shackles. The idea of driving didn’t seem very appealing at that time.
As she opened the lock of her car, her driver walked up to her. Almost mechanically she gave him the keys and settled on the back seat.
“Aap yahan kya kar rahe hain, maine to nahi bulaya tha na?” she asked him how he was there
“Sir ne phone kiya tha ma’am, bole zaroorat padegi aapko meri” he replied
She smiled for the first time since the day had begun.

Reaching home inebriated wasn’t something she had done in a long time, but the copious amount of rum had made sure it had happened.
She fumbled with her bag, to find her keys. Standing outside the door in dim light she saw her name written on the name plate. Just below her’s was his name. “Justice Singh”
The house smelt like someone who knew how to cook was at it. She saw him as she climbed up the stairs, as he saw her.
He walked up to her, took her bag off her arm, held her head and pulled it into his chest.
The ice cold prosecutor who had faced the world with composure just melted.
“Did you cook?” she asked face still buried deep into him
“I did!” he replied holding on to her
“Did you not need to be at the office?” she asked, still not letting go
“I needed to be here more than anywhere else” he tucked her hair behind her ear.
“I lost” her voice was heavy “I am disappointed in myself”
“You did good, Love. It was just a bad day at work. Or a bad judge may be?” he chuckled
“Hey! I love that judge” she wiped her tears, still holding on to him
“And said judge loves you back” he hugged her a little harder
“I am wasted” she said sniffling
“As is my white shirt with all the kohl marks you are leaving on it” he smirked, distracting her
“Will get you a new one” she said moving away “Or you could just add it to consultancy charge from the morning!”
“Did we make the news?” her sentences were taking time to form
“You made the headlines counsellor” he replied “As did your heels”
“The ones we got from that crazy store in Amsterdam” she laughed
She took off her shoes, stood on her tip toes and kissed him.
“I am glad you chose them” she said “And I am glad you chose me”
“I will choose you over and over and all over again, every day” He hugged her
His choice was perfect. He was perfect!

Mon Endroit Préféré

 

Romantic-Couple-Hugging-Drawings-and-Sketches-38

 

Landing on the airport of the city he called home felt different. It had only been a couple of months since he had last been here but it felt like forever. It was raining in this part of the world, in stark contrast to the dry brazen country he was coming from. Cleaning up the mess that civilization was leaving behind was his job. The power to recreate came with a whole lot of travel to inhabitable places.

He couldn’t wait to get home.

Waiting for his bags to come he caught the eye of a lady who had been sneakily staring for a while. He smiled. Shook his head as she walked up to him. He knew what was coming

“Arn’t you that writer Naina’s muse?” she chirped

“Boyfriend” He managed.

No matter what he did to save the world, he would always be known as  “That guy she writes about” he thought and smiled at how much he enjoyed it.

“Oh I knew it. Have seen you in the pictures and read all about you in her stories .You are so handsome, no doubt but she writes so well. Will you tell Naina, I loved her last story about Longing and Belonging. I am sure you loved it too!” She wouldn’t stop
“I haven’t read it” he interrupted
She gave him a very disapproving look.
“When a writer falls in love with you, you become immortal” the lady sighed “that’s what she wrote about you”

He smiled. Picked his bag and walked out.

“I just got to know I am immortal” he typed into a window named Chashmish
“Don’t tell me you read it” She replied
“I read the first one you wrote” He said
“That was five years ago M” She went on
“But I did, didn’t I?!” he defended
“I missed you” came the reply
“I missed u too” he said
“There is a world of a difference between “missed you” and “missed u”” she sent with an emoticon that stuck its tongue out
“You can tell me all about it when my tongue is in that smart mouth of yours” he replied
“Drive safe” ended the conversation

He could see his driver standing alert in all his whites and behind him the love of his life. A black beast.
The driver saluted, handed him the keys and left.
“Shadow my love” he said as he fastened the seat belt and started the ignition “We meet again”
“Welcome back Mr. M” the AI of the car replied “Do I set the co ordinates of the destination on the GPS?”
“I know my way home” he smiled

Driving on the dark winding roads as he left the concrete behind was therapeutic. The rain was cleansing his soul of everything the world had left on him.

It was well into the dark of the night as he pulled up into the parking of the house, far away from the city, in the middle of nowhere. A warm glow from the windows reflected on the wet walk way. He opened the door with his keys, stepped inside. He could smell her perfume in the air he breathed. And then he saw her.

She was sitting with her legs folded on a chair, peering into her laptop on the desk, writing with earphones in her ears. Her hair was rolled up, with a pencil in it. She was wearing just a white shirt. HIS white shirt

He walked up to her and pulled the pencil out of the bun. Her hair fell to her shoulders as she turned around standing up, looking straight into the eyes that were burning through her. He tucked her hair behind her ear, held the collar, kissed her neck and whispered “Mine”
“Talking about the shirt” he giggled as she stood there frozen
“You are such a ruiner M, you kill all my moments” she grumbled and moved away
“You ARE all my moments baby girl” he smiled
“Come here” he pulled her in.

Taking a long look at her he knew he was back into his happy place. While he saved the world, she would save him.

Limerence

preview

 

She loves the lines on his face, they tell her the story of his laughter. All the years etched in his bones, when he lived through his happily ever after, 

Each tiny freckle on his skin, tells story of once upon a time, of days he smiled till his cheeks hurt, without a reason or rhyme

She loves the way his voice sounds, the way his heart pounds to a mention, a sketch, a sliver or a shadow from..long lost..but known grounds,

An instant of silence..then he moves on, with a wink and a chuckle the darkness is gone. 

She loves the color of his eyes..they are like sunsets of their own, Warm and sad but glowing from the inside like a firestorm.

They shine and sparkle to his stories, like flames of a fire that is burning him, but also keeping him warm. 

 

 

 

** Limerence
(noun)
A state of mind resulting from romantic attraction, characterized by feelings of euphoria, the desire to have one’s feelings reciprocated, etc