Breathe a breath...

What was worth noticing was how even in the weakest of state, with the bleakest of strength, in the quietest of mumbles...there was, is and will only ever be one name to whisper..."Nandini". He literally held onto her as his own life, afraid the minute he'll lose her sense of touch, he might lose track of his own breaths. Unconscious? Conscious? It hardly even matters because she's not some thought which walks the lanes of his mind, she's not a memory which has created a home for herself in his heart...she's Nandini...his Nandini. The Nandini which lives in him, whose scent mingles in every sip of air he consumes. She's the Nandini whose reminiscing trails of touches caresses him to sleep at night and whose echoing vocals wakes him at every sunrise. She's the sight he wishes to cherish before he closes his eyelids and her presence is the companion he wishes to embrace for the rest of his life.

What was worth noticing was amidst the quivering lips, the trembling hands, the painful restlessness, his fingers didn't falter their steps whilst searching for their solace...their home...their calm; her fingers. He clutched them as if he hadn't felt their softness for years, as if he hadn't held onto them for decades. The fear of letting her go evident even in the miserable state. He doesn't want to fall back into unconsciousness...the fight to wake up so desperate...such a tear-shedding need! To be able to just absorb her presence wholeheartedly...because her touch assures him he's alive. Her touch gifts him the reason to fight...fight harder again all the odds which may be keeping them apart. Her touch reassures him that he's not alone, that he'll be all "perfect" very soon. Her touch allows him to live...just stay alive...

What was worth noticing was her painful shrieks, her desperate pleas, her shattered sobs, her guilt-coated tears. She's ready to bear hours of separation just so no act of carelessness is taken in regards of his health...just so god forbid she doesn't lose him to any sort of a mistake. His every breath is priceless to her...his every heartbeat is more precious that her own. How does she explain what he means to her. How does she express to them that her world is of no meaning without him. How does she explain to them that a star can't shine without her sky...

What was worth noticing was how she's ready to accept any deal, any challenge, even if it may scream trouble...just for him...for her love...for their hamesha! She will protect him till the last of her breath. She will shield him from every evil eye,every dark cloud, every piercing attack...because it's his Nandini's promise.

What was worth noticing was her trembling voice calling him to open his anxious eyes, her love's caresses as she revives him from his sleep, the weak smile playing on her lips trying to hide the guilt the anguish she was experiencing as she helplessly watched him laying there in much pain. What was worth noticing was how their silences conversed the need of more closeness, the need of enveloping each other in one another's affection, the need of closing every distance because hours of separation has seemed like eras already. What was worth noticing was how he needs no eyes to recognise the warm aura of his Nandini...how his fingers possessing their own vision, know their path to her fingers so they can intertwine and unite in the mellow world of their own. What was worth noticing was the way their voices, their touch, their mere presence is enough to bring back the smile which the two haven't smiled for what seems like an eternity. What was worth noticing was how his uneasy breathing, her tensed heart, their jittery body language...all came to a relived calm as they both returned home...in each other's arms.

As his Nandini cuddled against his needs and as her Manik left the trails of his fingers whilst stripping away the mask of Bymokesh...their souls finally found repose. As they brought their foreheads together...all pain eased, all breathlessness ceased...because in the cozily knitted cocoon of their love, they finally found the ability to breathe...just breathe their next breath of life...

I've missed him saying Nandini...I've missed her saying Manik...I've missed their fingers revering the love which breaths between them two...I've missed their touch being cossetted...I've missed MaNan cuddling...I've just missed PaNi being in the same frame. So babies...just welcome back and you two are just love...pure love...Bas!❤️