The Healed Wound and a Mended Soul - an ArSh OS

"Shilpa..." I called out to her, but my voice trembled. I felt weak. I knew that I had hurt her. I knew that she was in pain, though she didn't show it. And the worst part was... I knew that I was the reason behind her pain and I didn't know what to do about it. I did hurt her... but it was for her own good. I had to stop her from loving me. The pain I gave her by being away from her was much better than the pain she had to bear being with me. I was broken beyond repair. Love had already deceived me once. I was shattered and she knew it too.

Despite the thousand times I hurt her, she still stayed by my side. I half-smiled as I saw her coming towards me with a first-aid box, her hands trembling at the sight of my blood-oozing wounds.

"Shilpa... agar tujhe nahi karna hai toh, its okay. Main khud dressing karunga." I said, as I held her hand, to stop it from trembling further.

"It's okay Armaan. You just relax. Main karungi." she said, as she freed her hand from mine and unbuttoned my shirt.

Her very touch felt soothing. Her careful yet soft fingers brushed against my chest, leaving a tingling sensation where she just touched me. I looked at her tear-stained yet beautiful face. Her eyes held nothing but love for me. Though I never wanted her to fall in love with me, I still felt a strange bliss as I thought of her love.

"Armaan..." she called out to me, her voice meek and feeble. "Armaan, I think you need stitches. Hume hospital jaana chahiye." she said, trying to pull me out of the bed.

"It's okay Shilpa... I mean, Dr. Shilpa. You can do it right here." I said. I felt too weak to be moved out of here.

"Lekin... anesthesia ke bina main kaise karun?" she asked me, her eyes wide with shock and fear.

"It's okay Dr. Shilpa. I can bear with the pain." I told her, my voice coming harsher that I wanted it to be.

She flinched at the sound of his voice. Tears spilled out her eyes again and fell on my wound, burning it. But more than all this, I could feel her pain... just her pain. I needed her and I knew it. But I was neither brave enough nor practical enough to accept it. I was not ready to fall in love again, because love only means losing things and I had lost enough already.

I winced as a sharp sting on the needle passed on my skin, only then realizing that she was doing up my stitches. I watched her as her hands worked deftly on my wound and in no time, it was done.

"Strange... I never felt the pain." I thought to myself, bewildered.

"Probably because you were too engrossed looking at her." my conscience said, as if it was mocking me.

It was then I suddenly realized that she was nowhere near me. Sudden fear overtook me. I didn't want her to leave... not yet. I looked around, frantically, thankfully, to find her in the kitchen, filling a glass of water. She came towards me, one hand holding a tablet and another clutching the glass of water, her eyes fixed on the floor, not wanting to look at me.

My heart skipped a beat as she came closer. She handed me the glass of water and the tablet without a word and stood rooted to her place, waiting for me to take the tablet. I couldn't let take control over me so easily, so I just kept the tablet aside, as she looked at me in surprise.

"Main baadh main le loonga." I told her, giving her a cold look.

"I don't think asked your opinion Dr. Armaan." she reminded me, a stubborn look on her face.

My lips automatically pulled into a smile. "That's it. Two can play this game." I thought, as I smirked.

"But when it comes to me, then I guess my opinion is needed, whether you like it or not Dr. Shilpa." I told her, making her scowl.

"Armaan, stop testing my patience." she said, as she stepped closer to me.

"So will you Shilpa." I said with the same dignity as I got up from the sofa, making her take a step back.

Before I could figure out what she was about to say next, I was pushed back on to the sofa, as she bent over to me and forced the tablet and water into my mouth. Bewildered, I gulped down the tablet and looked her, only to find her laughing like crazy, as if it were a joke. Enraged, I pinned her to the wall, my body plastering hers. Our breathing grew erratic as we realized how close we were.

"How dare you? How dare you make me do something against my wish?" I asked her, my voice too harsh, making her cringe.

"Armaan... I didn't mean to hurt to you. But you had to take the tablet to feel better. That's why..." she said, her voice shaking.

"Why? Why do care for me Shilpa? Can't you see that I am broken already? I can't reciprocate your love Shilpa. I'll only hurt you." I said, trying hard to make her understand.

"I know Armaan. I know that you can't reciprocate. I don't want you to. I don't love you for the sake of you reciprocating it. I love you because I love you. And you can't stop me." she said, looking straight into my eyes and I knew that she meant it.

"I don't want you to stop." I said, as I inched closer to her, my lips brushing against hers.

She closed her eyes in anticipation. She looked beautiful than ever, her face looking peaceful and relaxed, her lips quivering.

Without wasting a moment, I placed my lips on hers, closing the gap between us. Her hands clutched my hair as she responded with the same intensity. We would have stayed like that forever, but, we pulled away as we fell short of breathe. Her cheeks turned crimson as her eyes met mine. Without a word, she took her bag and left, sparing a last glance at me before she left. I smiled. I knew this was not just it. Exhilarated, I went back to my bed, as the day came to an end. This was not the end. This was just the beginning and there was a lot more to come. I closed my eyes as I awaited a new tomorrow, the very new beginning for us.