THE TEMPEST II

Beloved seemed restless these days. She could feel something was terribly wrong. Yet, she could not figure it out. It had never happened before, she would say to herself as recalled how she would feel it. Yet, this time, it seemed to be beyond her reach. The more she tried to find it, the further it went. Each time, her quests would end up in vain and she would be further restless.

“Something, and something is there,” Beloved spoke to herself. Never had her heart, nor her inner voice had deserted her, and here she was today, desperate to find an answer. “What is it?” she spoke aloud and Pratik heard.

“What happened Beloved? What is what?” Pratik queried. He could see Beloved’s restlessness and just smiled back.

“Nothing as such Pratik,” Beloved replied with a false smile that Pratik immediately noticed. Seeing her smile Pratik immediately rose from the chair and went in front of Beloved, who was laying on a sofa.

As Pratik walked towards her, Beloved’s eyes followed him—Pratik leaving his chair, walking steadily towards her and sitting on the floor, holding her hands. Her eyes recalled the moment, time and again. While her eyes now met Pratik’s, her memory ran towards the empty chair where Pratik was sitting seconds ago. She recalled the movement—Pratik standing and the empty chair.

All of a sudden, Pratik could see that Beloved’s frightened eyes. Beloved felt she had now found her answers but deep inside, she wished she had not. Her eyes spoke of the terror and Pratik could feel her sweaty palms.

“Beloved…Beloved,” Pratik spoke but Beloved did not utter a word.

“Beloved, what happened? Beloved?” Pratik said once again but she would not reply.

“Beloved” and Pratik pronounced her name, for the first time and Beloved was taken by surprise.

“What? What did you call me?” Beloved asked.

“Beloved”, Pratik replied with a smile.

“No, before that Pratik,” Beloved queried again.

Pratik gently smiled and said the same, “Beloved.”

“I know you called me by my name Pratik” Beloved answered and as she smiled, her eyes gleamed like gems and Pratik was mesmerized, enthralled and besieged. 

Pratik smiled and asked what it was that was bothering her. “Tell me Beloved, what bothers you?”

“What bothers you?” and the words took her to the same recalling. Her eyes moistened and tears rolled down her eyes.

“Pratik,” and Beloved cried like she had never cried before. Her tears spoke of pain and sorrow that she seemed to have kept for long. Pratik stood up and sat next to his Beloved on the sofa and hugged her and whispered, “Tell me Beloved what bothers you.”

And Beloved began—

“For weeks I have been trying to find out what bothers me and I just could not, until you stood from that chair and came towards me and held my hands. Pratik, I was lost in oblivion and my memories fixed on you leaving the chair….would you ever leave me? Would you? Will you? You won’t, won’t you? I am scared Pratik. I’m just scared that I would get my answers. I’m scared” Beloved said as she sobbed.

Pratik immediately understood her concerns. He remembered his own tempest but pushed it back to answer Beloved’s.

“How could I ever leave you Beloved? I never will. Don’t you worry Beloved. I was, I am and I will be forever here for you. Never would I ever leave you Beloved because I just cannot imagine living without you. I am blessed to have you in my life Beloved. You are the greatest gift that God could have ever given me and I will always cherish you, through times and tides. I love you way too much to leave you Beloved. ” Pratik replied as he held her tight.

While tears from your loved ones hurt you to the deepest, it also tends to pacify you and realize how much the other loves you. In turn, you realize how much more you should love them, selflessly, to the fullest, and Pratik smiled.

“I love you Beloved. I would never leave you,” Pratik spoke in Beloved’s ears.

Wrapped in each other’s arms, both felt safe and thanked God for bringing them together. Like other times, both prayed and spoke the same words,

“Dear God, I love Pratik a lot. I pray that You give me the heart to love him more. I cannot live a day without him. Never take him before me.” “Dear God, I love Beloved a lot. I pray that You give me the heart to love her more. I cannot live a day without her. Never take her before me.”

Wrapped in Pratik’s arms, Beloved spoke, “Pratik,”

“Yes Beloved,” Pratik replied,

“Pratik,” Beloved spoke,

“Yes …….” Pratik spoke her name,

“I love you Pratik,” Beloved smiled as she heard her name for the second time and she held him tighter.

“I love you too Beloved,” Pratik replied.

The Tempest

The words Pratik had spoken to console his Beloved had left him restless. No matter how much he tried to push those thoughts aside, it would come back, each time with more vivid imaginations of losses. If not imaginations, his thoughts would go back to the very words he had spoken. He was revolving in an endless circle where he had professed his love to Beloved and hugged her tight in an embrace that he never wished to go. Again, his thought ran back in time…

What would he do if one day, he found Beloved wrapped in the arms of death? His heart laid still—the answer, he could never answer. Tears streamed down his eyes. What if he were to die? What would happen to Beloved? Would the memories be painful? Or would the memories become a guiding angel in her life? After all, both had promised to be there forever.

What was forever? Pratik’s inner voice queried. “Forever is until you die,” one part of his inner voice spoke. “The moment you die, your forever is gone too.” Then, another voice spoke, “Forever is forever. It is eternal, despite death. Even when we cease to exist, we will still be there, around us, around those people that we loved the most.”

“Eternal?” the Devil’s voice spoke. “Nothing is eternal. Everything ends the moment you loose your breath. Eternal is till you live. Nobody will see you after you’re gone. You are tangible and tangible things finish the moment their lives end.”

“We are tangible beings with eternal soul and memories. We will cease to exist for we cannot play with nature, but just like nature, we will always be there. We will always be there in the memories of the people whom we’ve loved. These memories will forever bestow humans with hope to move on, despite adversaries,” the Angel’s voice spoke.

As the tempest soared and calmed, Pratik continued to stare at something his eyes could not catch from the windows. His breathing was heavy but his eyes were lost—to those very imaginations where the Devil and the Angel were fighting to win over. As he stared to the peculiar landscape trying to find the answers, the voices spoke again.

“The rule of nature is not eternal. It is about ceasing to exist after it has lost. Only the fittest survive. Once you die, you will never know if you will be ever remembered. Neither can you be sure that you will remember your Beloved when she is gone,” the Devil’s voice spoke.

Pratik was immobile but his eyes were now moistened. His heart thumped like it had never before. He longed for an answer where this would all end.

“No Pratik. Every one of us will be remembered, just as you told your Beloved. We live n memories, forever. Yes, no matter how much we wish, we can never meddle with Nature and death is inevitable. But memories live forever. These memories will always push others to go forward. These memories reside in Love and give others Hope. Your Love is your Beloved and she is your Hope. Even when you’re gone, you will always be in her heart and soul. Forever.”

Just when the Devil’s voice was about to speak, from the depth of his heart, a soothing voice came. It was his Beloved’s, and she spoke a lyrical hymn that dispelled all the other voices. In her hymn, Beloved spoke;  

“Take my hand and take me to the stars, to the moon,

To the place where butterflies emerge from cocoon,

Enchant me with the beauty of your favorite lagoon,

Don’t let a second though cross your mind, make it soon

Make me smile and fill my pains,

Engrave my soul as yours, be in my veins,

Till the flowers blossom and thunder brings rain,

Take a vow to hold me tight, let my beats remain

Love me all and do it with our heart,

Make love to me all night long till I fall apart,

Show me how to break the rules and give a new start,

Keep my heart safe, atop your priority chart”

As Beloved’s voice stopped, Pratik was pacified and sanctified. No words could ever console him as the words from his Beloved. Finally the landscape was clearer. He saw buildings and mountains and the clear blue sky of the October sun. He made a vow to love her, more, and more. 

He did not know if heaven really existed, but he knew, heaven was in his Beloved’s lap. God was there when his Beloved touched his head and smiled and kissed his forehead and blessed his soul. Heaven was when he would die on Beloved’s laps. Heaven was his Beloved. Then, he whispered, “I love you Beloved and I wish to die on your lap and arms.”

Across the distance, Beloved felt something chilling. It was something that she had never heard before. “I hope you are fine Pratik. I love you” Beloved spoke.

Pratik smiled and walked away from the window. Just as clouds were about to hover at the clear blue sky, wind blew it. 

Tears in Heaven

Once, it so happened that Beloved, the epitome of love and happiness was tearful. Death, a hurtful truth had wrapped its arms around somebody who was very close to her life. Her eyes that gleamed hope and joy was moistened with never ending tears. She endlessly cried, refraining both food and water.

Today, Pratik was witness to grief that no words could ever explain. Wrapped in Pratik’s arms, he would try to console his Beloved that death was inevitable. He chocked as he fought to find words that would help Beloved to end the painful tears—both to her and to Pratik. With every word Pratik spoke, Beloved broke down into tears, and seeing her tears, his eyes too filled with tears…yet he had to be stronger. Once in a while, he would take his hands up to his eyes and wipe those tears that were about to fall…then, he would once again hold Beloved tight and try to console her. Yet, each time, he was fighting a losing battle. With every word he spoke, his eyes too moistened and he chocked; again; one again; and again and again. 

Beloved cried like she had never cried before. And in tears, she whispered, fighting as much for words as to stop the falling tears. She wiped her tears and whispered as she choked, “Nothing, and nothing in this world can be considered to last long. Love, friendship, kinship, this that…we all are held together by a breakable thread tied with hopes of longevity which might be cut short at any point of time.” And she cried.

What Beloved had spoken was eternal truth. Indeed, in the end, no matter how much one wished, nothing would last forever. The length would depend on the years that each individual lives lived and shared.  And Beloved was true. Every relation that human beings shares in their journey called life was held by a breakable thread. Indeed, even when one wished that these relationships would continue forever, they were so frail that they could be cut short at any point of time. 

Pratik fought with words and whispered, as his Beloved again sobbed. “I know Beloved. Nothing will ever stay forever. We are all on bound to die. But do you know something?” As Pratik spoke, he tried to raise Beloved’s head that rested on his shoulder so that he could see her. Beloved refrained and rested her head on his shoulders again.   “Do you know something Beloved?” Pratik queried again and sobbingly, Beloved replied “What?”

“Memories Beloved. Memories that will stay with us forever because we have shared so much of our life’s journey. This stays with us for the rest of our lives. And Beloved, this is so strong that nobody can neither steal nor break. It is what you and the other person share…and do you know that you share these memories forever Beloved? Forever and always. It will stay with you…regardless of the distances you cover and uncover. It stays with you giving you joy and hopes for the rest of your life.”

Somehow, these words finally seemed to hold back further tears from Beloved, and he sighed a relief. Pratik’s heart thumped in joy…but also in some pain in the depths of his heart that he did not want Beloved to know. These were questions whose answers, Pratik never longed to answer.

“I love you Beloved,” Pratik spoke and he swallowed the words as he choked. Then, Beloved slowly rose her head and just when she was about to look him at his face, Pratik wiped his tears.

Their eyes met—Beloved’s looked pacified somehow but Pratik’s eyes were tearful. Yet, he smiled and whispered, “I love you Beloved” and wrapped himself in her arms which he never wished to let go. “I love you too Pratik,” Beloved spoke.

From behind, Pratik wiped his tears that he had withheld for so long. His eyes drifted to the very questions that he never longed to answer and his heart beat.

MAGIC

Magic was the only word that could express the time Pratik and his Beloved spent together. Magic, for no other word could describe it to its purest sense the feeling that the moment bestowed upon Pratik and his Beloved. The only thing Pratik could do was watch his Beloved speak. As Beloved spoke her heart out, her eyes glistened and moistened with joy. Her eyes, Pratik saw, radiated that vitality and youthfulness which Pratik had long missed. With every words she spoke, her eyes danced in delight. She was an angel of delight. How he wished time would stop, but the more he thought of, the quicker it went. Pratik was drawing himself into quick sand. Yet, he wanted to hold on to it. Beloved spoke with utter innocence, and how gladly Pratik cherished. No words or no emotions could ever explain the intensity of his joy, of him being a silent listener and Beloved, an endless talker.

They say, time eventually passes by, but with the passing, we always have something to cherish. While moments pass, just like the way it came, memories last…linger on in the hearts of those dear to each other. These memories add to eternal and profound love of promises of never leaving one another; no matter what circumstances be. These are memories, besieged by unspoken words that always stand tall and say, in silence, “We have made this far, and now, we will go together, forever.”  

As he saw himself on those dancing eyes of his Beloved, Pratik queried about what Love and Peace meant. He questioned himself of what happiness meant to him. Was Love just an emotion, or was Love his Beloved? Was Peace something unreachable or something unattainable? And when would one find peace? Would a gentle touch of a lover pacify and give solace to all the troubling times one faces? Pratik certainly felt so.

“What are you thinking?” Beloved’s question brought back Pratik from his oblivion.

“Nothing Beloved,” Pratik replied and without asking anymore Beloved went on…her eyes shone and her voice cooed in lyrical tides. With the lyrical tides, Pratik once again drifted back to his oblivion…

“Your love is your Beloved,” Pratik’s inner voice spoke. “You cannot treasure or know what love is until you treasure your Beloved. She is your heart and soul. She is always eternal.” Those words pushed him back to reality—a merry reality where Beloved spoke endlessly while her eyes danced and her hands moved in harmony with her words. Everything Pratik saw today was pure magic, a perfection that no words, to no extent, could ever explain.

Yes, Beloved was, is and would always be his Love. Peace was when Pratik was with her; safe in the sanctity of a blissful heaven that he never longed to be forged out of. Peace was when Beloved touched his hands and blessed his soul, rushed his adrenaline and made his heart beat to unfathomable beats of…

Happiness was the time when Pratik saw his Beloved’s eye sparkle with joy…it was when her eyes moistened as she spoke…happiness was when Pratik was with her. Happiness was when Pratik loved his Beloved. Happiness was when Beloved’s hands touched his and sanctified his soul. Happiness was love. Love was his Beloved, and happiness was his Beloved.

With the mind’s tempest pacified, Pratik slowly started to hear his Beloved’s voice clearer…he smiled at the thought…smiled for himself…smiled for her…and smiled just because he wanted to smile. Seeing the unexpected smile, Beloved asked, “Why are you smiling?” Pratik was just as unexpected to the question as Beloved was to his smile. But still he smiled replied, “Nothing”.

Deep down his heart thumped…his senses reached in perfect happiness…from the depth of his heart and soul; a voice spoke, 

“Oh Beloved, I love you so.”

TURNING BACK TIME; AS TIME TURNS THE TIDE

The essence of life is memories. These are memories that we hold on to, no matter what. These are recollections that has helped us to be who we are from who we were, or who we used to be. These are recollections of fragmented memoirs that continually haunt us as it continually defines and redefines our lives.

It is in these memories that humans immerse themselves and introspect their lives in awe, bewilderment, guilt, happiness and other countless emotions. Memories were, are and will always be with us. Each recollection takes us to a distinct and detached past—detached from its causes and effects.  If the incidents are joyous, people wish to hold them only longer. Yet, when memories turn bitter, tears roll down our eyes.

Today, Pratik was lost in these very memories. Memories of himself and his Beloved—a flashback of how time ceased to tickle when they were together; flashback of how Pratik, now, upon recollections, wished the time to cease forever—back to the eternal, blissful past.

Beloved’s voice then spoke from within, “But what if memories were hurtful Pratik? What if events were not the way they are now?” Pratik’s eyes widened, softened and moistened while it stayed firm on its decision. Pratik could never digest such words from his Beloved. She had always been his inspiration, and when his inspiration seemed to dessert hope, he was destitute. Pratik had dedicated everything he had achieved so far to his Beloved. Had it not been for her, he knew that he would never be where he now was. She had seen him rise and fall. She had seen him run barefooted to catch the sun. She had pushed him to follow his heart, watched his back and held him when he stumbled. She had loved him, in joy and in anger—equally, and more—every day. “Tell me Pratik, what would you do if memories were hurtful Pratik?” Beloved’s voice spoke from within.

Immediately Pratik regretted his wild imaginations and tried to flush them out of his mind but it stayed; waiting and longing for an answer. “Beloved, no memories ever hurt me because you have been always there. There are no single memories where I have been alone. You have always been my savior and my inspiration.”

“Beloved, if I could turn back time, I would always turn it around and make you mine. I always will” Pratik said to himself. Then a voice echoed, “But she is still yours, isn’t she?” Pratik replied, “She always is”. Then, Beloved’s voice, that mixed with a small banter and a soul soothing smile that moistened her eyes in delight spoke, “So there is no need to turn back time”. Pratik smiled, stared into those eyes of his Beloved that danced on his eyes and whispered, “You always were there, you always are, and you will always be Beloved. But would it hurt to turn back the past and relieve the moments that we cherished so much?” Pratik’s voice replied. “You’re memories would never hurt me Pratik, and I could endlessly live on those memories,” Pratik imagined his Beloved speaking as her eyes moistened with the joyous recollection of togetherness, which she was re-living on Pratik’s eyes, with him.

FIGHTING MEMORIES

Dear Pratik

The nights are ruthless when I fight every day with memories where we were together. Every night, I battle with tears, ask them not to roll down my cheeks. Every night, I continue to fight a losing battle. I console my restless heart of the day when we will meet. Yet, my heart is frail when it comes to you. My yearning heart endlessly longs to cover a distance that we both know can never travel until time comes.

As I console my weeping heart, I am losing the strength that I had collected to cope with your departure when you departed. Both my heart and mind knows that you are gone for good; gone for the eternal togetherness which we will share when you arrive—the day that I endlessly wait! The thought of our conjugal togetherness delights me and withholds tears from falling for a while. Yet, then again, I remember the distance—the aching distance until we meet and tears roll down without my reckoning.

I count days Pratik. Each passing day brings you closer to me. Each night tells me that such nights will always pass, and pass quickly. Yet, I have been a fool to think that nights and days pass quickly because it never does. The twenty four hour is too long a time for a day to pass by.

Can we not decrease time Pratik? Can we not decrease time in hours or minutes or even seconds so that we can be together soon? I sincerely wish we could.

But, time is strange. It never passes, and the more I think of it, the more lonelier I become. On my journey, I miss your touch. I miss when we held our hands and walked distances. I miss moments where you would endlessly talk. I miss the kisses. I miss your embrace. I miss you Pratik.

Each day, I miss you more. The more I miss you, the more I love you. This is what distance has taught me in your absence. I meet my friends and stay with my family as long as I can to divert my heart and mind from you, but, I endlessly fail. Love never seemed to be so strong an emotion we departed.

I still remember the last time when we departed. I knew you would go. Yet, when you held me in my embrace, I wished the time would freeze. I wished that you’d never go. I wished we would stay the way we are forever. Together. Never away. Yet, you left. I never looked back because I knew what I was leaving behind. I was leaving behind you. I was leaving behind my heart. I was leaving behind my life and joy and going ahead—with a heavy heart. I was leaving you until we would meet again.

AGAIN…WHEN? How frail is this heart? Tears, stop to roll down for no reasons. I cannot console you anymore. I am losing all of my strengths that I had gathered to hold back the aching pain of departure. Tears, stop the cries….

Love you forever and more,

See you soon Pratik.

Yours,

Beloved

MEMORIES OF TOGETHERNESS

Dear Beloved,

It has been long that we last met and it is now that I have learnt that Distance is more than eight letter word. It is the departure, a journey of separation which we fight to realize…a journey of a lonesome walk…a longing of seeing the other and a piercing realization of when we’ll meet…

In this foreign land, Beloved, I have become a lonely soul amidst the maddening chaos of greed and low morale. Each day, I think of you, the moments we shared runs across my mind like the soft breeze that cajoles my senses. I close my eyes. With each moments that I recall, I hear my name from your voice. I smile and then, open my eyes—only to wake up left alone. The breeze is long gone and the scorching heat takes away my energy, save the memories that I hold onto….the memories of us Beloved…memories of you.

And in this foreign land, Dear Beloved, I savor our moments, cherish your picture and smile in delight. While distance hurts the most when I recall of the journey that I have to travel to be in your arms…my heaven, I have, nonetheless, learnt how much I love you…how much I miss you, and how much I long for you…It is in these times that I wish I were a bird my Beloved…a free bird that could fly to its will…to its home at the end of the day despite the hardship he goes through in the day. Indeed, dreams are wonderful to dream about, especially when they are of thoughts that bring a smile on your face accelerate the beating heart. Yet, dreams also let you down when you wake up…when you know that while you were together in your dream, you wake up lonely—alone.

MOMENTS. MEMORIES. These two words keep me going on in your absence. MOMENTS we held each other in arms, those moments that we kissed, and moments when I rested my head on your lap and forgot the world around me…that very moment when I realized my heaven was when I closed my eyes and rested my head on your lap while you caressed my hair…

MEMORIES…those fond recalling of the moments that comes from our hearts and those that dances in our eyes... memories that makes me smile and memories that makes me long for your presence in joy…and memories….that once again echoes my longing…my loneliness.

Both knew that we’d be bidding one another a farewell for two years. We had talked about it for long and said, “Its only two years. It will pass as gently as it came.” But two months away from you, My Beloved, I now realize that two years of distance won’t pass as we thought it would. But Beloved, aren’t these the times that test our love and strength? Aren’t times like these that makes love grow fonder and dearer?

In this distance, I have realized how much I have had been dependent on you. I’ve realized how restless I become when I’m not with you…it has taught me why I cannot live without you and continually reminds me of how much I love you..

Dear Beloved, pages could take eternity to fill my aching heart but I am saving words and emotions. 

Each day, I love you, truly, madly, deeply,

Loving you forever and more,

Holding on to the memories...

Pratik

Any Other Name Would Smell As Sweet*

“Why don’t you call me by my name,” Beloved one day asked all of a sudden to Pratik. It was a question he had no hint of. It also was a question that he never had an answer to. He looked into her eyes and just smiled, hoping that the question would go as it came, which, however, did not.

“Don’t just smile Pratik. Tell me, why you don’t call me by my name,” Beloved queried longing to hear for an answer.

“What is your name though,” Pratik banteringly said as he came close. Beloved instantly pushed him aside, looked other way and made an adoring face of looking mean—a mixture of small disappointment for an unexpected joke when she was serious, and of a wait when Pratik would turn her around, smile and answer.

“Tell me Beloved, what is your name,” Pratik said with a smile, and his Beloved further walked away.

“I don’t know,” she snapped back and sat on a sofa across the distance.

“When you don’t know your name, how would I know your name,” Pratik said teasingly.

“That is so rude Pratik. I’m not talking to you. Not talking to you until you tell me my name,” his Beloved replied, added, “…and yes, I do know my name.”

While Pratik always loved her Beloved, he sometimes longed to tease her and see her adoring mean face once in a while, and today was one of those moments. However, while he wished to see her mean face once in a while, he always kept it short because he couldn’t see her look mean for a long time because he was not accustomed to it. He then walked to her, and held her from behind…rested his chin on her shoulders…Beloved, smiled, held his hands and asked again, pretending to be mean, when she wasn’t, “So tell me now, why don’t you call me by my name Pratik?”

“You don’t have a name my Beloved because you are my Beloved,” Pratik said as he held her from behind. Beloved smiled and queried, “And why am I your Beloved?”

“You’re my Beloved because you are my Beloved, and because you are dear to me. Beloved because I love you. I have no answers to the whys and hows Dear because these are questions that I never have answers to. It is not that I have not tried to search and look for the answers. I have quested endlessly—quests that all ended futile…quests that all led me to you without an answer.” Pratik said.

“You should have told me about the quest Pratik. I would have helped you to find the answers,” Beloved turned towards Pratik, stretched her hands on his shoulders and said with a smile, a small curled stretch of lips. This was the smile that escalated Pratik’s joy…the smile that further deepened his love, and it was a holy smile—a smile that he could see only on moments like this.

“No Beloved. I did fail to find my answers but I did not fail to find my destiny. All of my quests led to you my Beloved and your acceptance was my answer to all those questions that I asked for and to all those questions that I failed to ask for. You were, are and will always be my greatest gift,” Pratik said.

As Beloved heard those words, her eyes moistened and she held him close and whispered, “I love you Pratik…I love you very much.”

“I love you too my Beloved…I love you forever and more.”

As they held the other, Beloved, without seeking an answer asked, “Then what is my name Pratik?”  

“For me, your name is Beloved, my Beloved. And besides, what’s in a name Beloved when you know that ‘a rose by any other name would smell as sweet’”.

Upon hearing the words, Beloved gently kissed Pratik’s lips and he smiled…held her close and said within him, “I love you my Beloved, and I’ll always do. I love you forever and more.” He then rose his hands to his eyes and gently wiped those falling tears.

*(The title comes from William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet’s Act II, Scene II)

SOULFUL PROMISES

Two years had gone and yet, Pratik never knew how much he loved his Beloved, how much he adored her. He had spent many sleepless nights trying to answer why he loved her, why he so much needed her and how blessed he was to have such a loving Beloved next to him, on his arms, on one another’s arms. All he knew was that he loved her dearly. Now, he never cared for the reasons but only cared to love her more and more every day. He could not imagine his life without her. She was his hope and strength…his faith and trust. Would she be missing or gone, he knew he would fall apart. Each passing day, he prayed that when time came to bid one another a final farewell, he be the first one. When that day came, he would sleep on his Beloved’s lap like a child for long, smile, whisper I Love You and gently close his eyes forever…

He twitched at the thought and turned towards his Beloved. Her eyes were friends to the dark night around. Yet, they seemed to dance and speak words of love to him, or that was what he thought of it to be. He stared at his Beloved for a long time and thanked her for being with him. Like always, from the depth of his heart, he promised to be with her, love her more and never let her go. He promised to be with her in every step she took. She was the sweetest reward of his life, his sweetest star…the best thing that ever happened to him—his luck, his joy—everything was in her love, her touch, her embrace. To the world, The Garden of Eden might have stayed within the Holy Bible, but to him, it was still there—in her lap. But this garden had something more to offer. There were no forbidden apples that caused suffering, but each apple promised of more love, of stronger bond with each passing day, promises of togetherness that until now had been fulfilled….promises that would be fulfilled in the years to come because he knew he’d do anything and everything for her and only her…Pratik slowly moved and rested his head on the bed’s wall.

Beloved suddenly woke up with the movement of Pratik’s hand. She opened her eyes and saw that he was sleeping with his head resting on the bed’s wall. She looked at him and whispered three words of love and turned around. Her eyes suddenly moistened and tear drops slowly rolled down her eyes and onto the pillow…she didn’t know why her heart cried when her life, her joy was next to her. Yet it cried…when she tried to solace her heart, her heart went restless and beat faster—each beat calling Pratik’s name.

She remembered—“Love can’t be measured with the depth of the seas, nor can it be measured with the height of the Everest. It can only be measured with the tears and laughter…with the beats of heart that pounds to hear that special name…”and my special name is you Pratik. You and only you my Love. She smiled and her heart slowly returned to its regular rhythm…She turned to see that Pratik’s head now rested on the pillow and his hands were on her hip’s contour. She held his hand and whispered I love you and will always do my Love. I am so glad to have you in my life my Love. Now that I have you, I just can’t imagine my life without you….I will always love you—more and more every day. 

SPRINGS OF JOY

Two springs had gone by that Pratik and his Beloved were together. Their love was an affection that everybody envied, praised and respected. Both were always there for the other…each loving the other more—everyday. After all, heavenly father can never leave his child destitute until he sends someone for his child—another child that is bestowed with His luck of love and blessings of eternal union. And when He sends his soul to another child, He rests behind with a smile and looks at the happy portrait of love, togetherness and joy each give to the other.

With each passing day, Pratik and his Beloved knew the other more—found the more of themselves. Both understood one another in silence. Words never were needed for them to communicate. They conversed with the other’s heart. In silence they’d whisper I Love You My Love. When they’d say so, they would gently smile and eyes would fill with joyous tears.

Words were easy but they were insufficient when Pratik and his Beloved attempted to converse. As a result, they spoke in silences—as if words would fade with the wind and never reach the other’s heart. Each were always there for the other, loved as much as they could—with all their hearts. Neither knew if they loved less or more. Yet, in silent nights when the stars twinkled, each wondered if they loved the other less. In turn, every following day had more to offer—more love, more affection, care and togetherness. Eventually, words would shy away not just because they were insufficient to express what both had to say, but also because they would disappear before it reached the other’s ears.

Indeed, once in a while, they would have small fits which would disappear like a gust of wind—go the way it came.

“I’m not talking to you anymore,” Beloved would say at times by curling her lower lips in false anger and make faces. Pratik would look at her—with those loving but penetrating eyes and softly say with a smile “Really?” and 

stare at her.

She’d turn away from the eyes—that loving but searching eyes, that mystic and penetrating eyes which she had never felt until three springs. When those eyes fell upon her, she would turn away.

“Really Beloved, are you not talking to me anymore?” Pratik would again turn towards her—hold her shoulders and look into her eyes and ask—softly—“Are you not talking to me anymore?” Then, her eyes would moisten and she’d hug him tight and say, “Who said I’m not talking to you? How can I not talk with you? I love you so much my Love,” and Pratik would hold her back, kiss her head and whisper back, “I love you too,” and feel the Sun’s warmth in his heart and smile.

From above the clouds, the Heavenly Father would smile and his eyes would moisten with joy. A tiny drop of tear rolled down His cheeks and fell down the cloud causing rain of joy…

Seeing the rain, Beloved pushed Pratik and ran to the garden and felt the third year’s first rain on the same day as two bygone years.

“It’s the same day again. I love you Pratik” she spoke out loud—only to make sure that her words would reach up to him.

“I love you too My Angel, and yes, it is the same day,” Pratik whispered back with a smile and looked towards the cloud and said, “Thank you God for your gift”. 

Words of Love

The joy of life has always been love; an emotion that comes from a heart's depth. It is a bliss that we only can feel, never express in words regardless of a million words that exists. Every time one attempts to write, praise its glory, one fails to because he is in oblivion lost...in a state of reverie...trying to begin, yet never knowing where exactly the start is!

Failing to do so, he runs in circle, a vicious catch to find the start, and when he doesn't, he looks for the end...an end that could show where the start is...an end that never starts because the beginning, the genesis is never found. Then we probably start to feel that we've been picked from an age and placed in a different one. With that thought, we attempt to find out where we landed, and thus look back for traces, some signs that must have been left behind...some footprints....

We pant as we endlessly circle the circle. Failing to know the beginning, we start somewhere down the line...from somewhere we think we can begin...from the very words that comes from a lover's heart, and that very word his Beloved can hear, and keep hearing: I Love You: and it begins...

I love you because you have always been with me...walked with me in every step that I took and take, stayed with me even when I faltered...I love you because you have been my ray of hope...I love you because you have always brought the best in me...love you because every time I think of you, my heart beats in delight...I love you because your very memories reminds me of the joy I've had since you came to my life. And more than that, I love you for all the love, care and faith that you've bestowed in me.

If ever you ask me, ''would you love me if I walked out of you...if I never be beside you...never love, care or trust you,'' I will say, ''Yes. I love you still, and will love you: ALWAYS.

I'll love you still my Beloved because my love never sought love in return. It continues to love and will continue to love you because you are my Beloved. Indeed my Beloved, I''ve never sought anything in return from you. I love you because I want you to know, regardless of all the misfortunes or ill-fates, I love you. I love you and apart from mere rational logics, I cannot tell you why I love you. I just do. And if you are not convinced, if you doubt my words my Beloved, I'll ask a very simple question:

''If, suppose, you ask something with God, and it doesn't get fulfilled, will you stop praying and loving the Almighty?'' I know you will not...and indeed my Beloved, you are just the same to me, even if we are dressed in mortal attire. Precisely because we are mortal, I love you as if this is the last day I'll ever love you...as if I'll never wake up to hear your words of love ever again...cuddle in your arms...hold you...kiss you...and whisper gently; I love you. I LOVE YOU MY BELOVED. DO YOU LOVE ME TOO? TELL ME FOR I MIGHT NEVER HEAR YOU AGAIN!

Love,

Pratik

ON YOUR ARMS …a narrative

The joy of being loved is far beyond human expression. Words cannot explain and neither can it show how much you love your Beloved. Everything large that is imaginable to our knowledge becomes small. Universes that are billions of light years away fall too short of their distance. Together, you could show your love, but when distant, you ache for words that can tell and show how much you love your Beloved. In the end, the only words that escapes our mouth is, “I love you, and love you a lot.” Yet, you know these words still haven’t conveyed the love you actually want to show. You wish you could rip your heart open and show it, take it out and give it to your Beloved, or even, change your hearts so that your Beloved beats in you, and you beat in hers…

Yet, the distance was no longer there between Pratik and his Beloved. He went to her arms. And when they met, time seemed to freeze. Movements, words and their smiles took eternity to complete. The only sound one could hear was that of their thumping hearts …aching….racing…confused and joyous. Who could explain that joy that bliss…Both ached for an embrace and their mumbling lips, just for a kiss….

The colossal reality of a long waited dream finally seemed to end. Patience had its own sweet reward. Both struggled to hold their breaths and ached for a kiss, an embrace. Yet, nothing would come save smile that fought for words in futile…nothing save tears of joy in the other’s eye.

Not before a gust of wind blew that they knew of the distance. A blink of an eye, and they were in the other’s arms. The setting Sun that once had stood still at the backdrop finally seemed to set behind the mountains and pave ways for the full moon and the stars…

And when they were in the other’s arms, finally they spoke; softly, tenderly so that no one could hear…

“I love you,” was all he had said and his Beloved tightened her grips and held him as close as possible. In delightful tears, she whispered, “I love you too and love you forever and more.”

Coming to your arms

It seems forever that I’m lost in your memories…the wonderful yesteryears springs in my heart and I am absorbed into it.

Your presence reminds me how lucky I am. Love indeed comes as a surprise in accordance to time. I reckon that you’ve been the best part of my life…and you’ll always be. If time tests our patience, it in the end gives us the best reward. And my reward has been you.

The more I love you, the more I tend to know some part of me…and the more I know about me, the more I love you...

My Beloved, with your words of acceptance, I have nothing further to write more. What I have in my heart, I further cannot show it to you. The only word that comes when I attempt to write is the three words; I love you and love you forever.

The joy you’ve brought to my life, I cannot explain in words. I wonder if it was my destiny or my fate that I met you…that our paths crossed bringing us joy and jest. But now that I’ve found you, I’ll cherish you forever and long.

I further cannot accept the distance between us. The miles seem eternity before I reach in your arms. I shall not wait any longer. I just want you to know that this time, I’m coming for you…coming to be with you forever in your arms…coming back to the village where I ran barefoot to catch the sun…to hold the sun if only for a moment…..

And now that I’ve caught the sun, I feel its warmth…and this time for eternity….

Forever shall we live in its warmth and I hand you a promise of love till death do us apart.

Yours and yours forever,

Pratik