Zehal-e-Miskeen - A Tale of Lost Love [part 2 link, page 23]- Page 13

Once the blanket of the night had nestled its place into the sky, Maan threw back his blanket and sat upright on the couch.

Cracking open one of the windows, for he was too cold to brave the open air, he took a few much needed inhalations of tobacco and then made his way to the kitchen.

What started as a task for a glass of water turned into curiosity as he came across a white envelope that shone through a half opened drawer.

He pulled it out, inspecting its contents. There was a photograph of a water fountain, the shadow of someone, and then a scrap piece of paper.

One side was blank, but he was taken aback when the other side read the name of a medical pill. One he was all too familiar with.

***

A new dawn rose which led to Dev to work, Geet on the weekly shop and Maan home alone, as usual.

Not being able to resist temptation, he crept into her studio. The room was simply her; nothing but beauty surrounded him.

But he saw nothing else as his unfinished portrait looked him in the eye. He must have stared for what seemed like an eternity, for when the lock in the door turned he bolted out of the room and into the bathroom.

Hearing Geet shuffling around downstairs, he threw cold water onto his face and looked at himself hard in the mirror. Whatever doubts and hesitations he had pondered over last night upon the discovery dissolved away now. If he lived, he lived for her. And if he was now summoned to a battle, it would be only and only for her.