Sukoon

He woke up with a jolt. Beads of cold sweat running down his forehead glistened in the moonlight reflecting off the pool. 

Arnav’s erratic breathing and shivering body caused her to stir in her sleep. Khushi slowly woke up to see him sitting up, as lines of worry appeared on her forehead. Her stomach turned  into knots seeing his shaken form. 

“Kya hua? Bura sapna dekha kya?”

She placed her hand on his shoulder. 

Seeing moments from his parent’s suicide coupled with occurrences of his present kept tripping his mind sending all of his clarity in a downward spiral. Nothing made sense, he felt like his nerves were being pulled and fear of his life being controlled by another force bothered him to no end. 

Khushi gave him a glass of water and wiped his sweat with her dupatta. Arnav calmed down as she continuously rubbed his palms tenderly between her own. 

She spoke words of assurance as she made him lay down pulling the duvet over him. 

Arnav looked at her with questioning eyes, a plea of a child who was lost in the crowd. It broke her heart to see him in this state, so vulnerable and broken. 

She snuggled closer to him and hugged his form. Arnav’s stiff muscles loosened as his arm went around her waist pulling her closer. 

As the sound of Khushi’s heart pumping fell on his ears a sense of calm washed over him. Khushi’s arm went around him encircling him in her embrace. 

She murmured sweet nothings into his hair as he got lulled into sleep. 

The thumping of her heart and her warm embrace, reassured him he wasn’t alone. 

Everything will be fine.