Ficlet 10/50: Don't move, it'll be okay

~For Nargis (--Nargis--)~

~And Lavanya Di (Amlavs)~

#36: Don't move, it'll be okay

In retrospect they shouldn't have come here. Who goes ice-skating in the middle of a forest in Norway anyway? That too in the middle of January when they know the ice had begun melting?

But they were young and stupid and in love. Everything seemed possible and safe.

Twinkle was gliding across the ice gracefully, twirling every now and then. The snow covered conifers and Kunj the only spectators of her mirth. Kunj skated alongside her too. He laced their glove clad hands together as they glided across the ice.

"Kunj this is the best birthday present ever!" she kisses him on his cheek.

He knew she always wanted to visit the Scandinavian countries, she had told him so on numerous occasions. And Kunj wanted to whisk her away and fulfill her birthday wish on her actual birthday but then again he didn't want to break Leela and her Santa Claus tradition with Twinkle. So he waited until New Years to hand Twinkle the envelope containing their air tickets and watched her face light up like Times Square.

They skate like that for an hour, laughing, falling and dancing until Kunj decides to catch himself a break.

He walks over to the edge of the frozen pond and onto the snow covered ground. They had dropped their bags there. He plops down on the ground and fishes a bottle out of the bag. Chugging it all down in a minute.

He could go back and skate with her for a while but he is content sitting there and watching her slide and slip from where he is. He couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was. Her hair cascading down her shoulders in perfect waves, her nose having gone adorably red from the cold, her hands encased in those dainty gloves, her uninhibited, child-like smile. She was the strongest women he knew and yet she was this vulnerable kid at the same time. And for some reason Kunj was ferociously protective of her.

Kunj was lost in his own thoughts, smiling to himself when he hears the earth grumble and crack. Twinkle lets out a scream. He instantly knew the situation.

"Kunj!"

He is on his feet in a second, raising his hands, gesturing her to stop moving.

"Kunj-"

"Baby, shh!" he looks her right in the eye, trying to convey the calm that he most certainly wasn't feeling at the moment. "Don't move, it'll be okay."

He can see her eyes tear up and her lips quiver in fear, even from where he was standing. And he wants to run to her, wants to wrap her up in his arms and shield her from any harm that may befall them.

But he can't.

He knows how delicate the situation was. He knew how one wrong step could cause the ice to crack.

Twinkle was standing smack in the middle of the lake, her feet slightly shivering in fear. She dares a look down and her breath hitches. The crack was getting bigger and bigger. "Kunj!"

"I know Twinkle. I know" he tells her. "Just don't move okay?"

She doesn't dare breathe after that.

Kunj places one light and hesitant foot on the ice. The ground rumbles in retaliation.

There was no way he was going to get there to her without the ice caving in.

"Kunj mujhe darr lag raha hai."

"Kuch nahi hoga tujhe. Main kuch nahi hone dunga tujhe. Bas don't move okay?"

She nods desperately.

Kunj tries taking another step and this time the rumble is too loud for it to be safe.

He gulps heavily because now she is going to panic. "Twinkle." He tries to keep his voice flat and normal. "Twinkle, dekh main waha nahi aa sakta. Ice bahut patli hai." She lets out a sob already. He can understand her fear. "Twinkle shh, dekh main jaanta hu ki tujhe darr lag raha hai, par baby you have to try."

She shakes her head in a no. "Kunj baraf toot jayegi."

"Twinkle, dekh tujhe try karna hoga, please baby."

She takes one tiny step at that, only for the crack underneath her to crack wider. She shrieks.

"Kunj!"

Kunj curses underneath his breath. He could run to her, he wants to run to her but then he knows he can't and shouldn't. It's a risk that could cost him heavily. "Okay, okay. Twinkle relax! Relax. Ab slowly, ek dum slowly, apne skates nikaal."

Twinkle is hesitant to make any move at all. It seems like she is just as frozen as the lake underneath her.

Kunj has to scream her name to get her attention. "TWINKLE!"

It does the trick. She bends down to reach her feet. Her muscles too tense. She pulls the lace loose and slowly takes off one shoe. She does the same to the next and then stands tall waiting for the next command.

Kunj releases the breath he was holding. "Okay. Good! Ab aaiste se steps le."

She doesn't follow that.

He knows why.

"Twinkle trust me. Take a step."

She shakes her head, ignoring him. "Nahi, Kunj. Tumne kaha tha, Don't move. I won't move."

He can tell she was flustered. Her brain was running on adrenaline and fear. Any words that he would say hence worth would make no sense to her.

"Twinkle." He tries in a calmer tone. "Mujhe dekh"

And as he doubts, his words fell on deaf ears. "Twinkle, meri taraf dekh." Louder but calmer.

She looks over to where he is. He extends his hand towards her. "It'll be okay."

She takes a step. The ice doesn't crack. They both thank every lord they know.

He encourages her every step of the way until she is mere 5 steps away.

He can already see the tension leaving her shoulders.

Four steps remaining and the ice cracks and caves. Twinkle closes her eyes and braces for the inevitable cold that could numb her in seconds.

But instead of the cold she feels his warm embrace. And she can finally breath.

When they are finally safe on solid ground, she hugs him and whisper. "I am never moving from here."

THE END.

This is the end of Day 10/50! Double digits guys! Woho!

Anywho, thank you all so much for sticking with me so far. Hope this Summer has been good for you, so far.