The turquoise fabric contrasted her milky skin that shone again the dusk light as her slender fingers picked up the droplet earrings he had brought for her last time. The bangles clang against each other on her arms with every move of her hands and finally her fingers traced against the wedding chain tenderly while her hazel eyes softened as she watched her own reflection on the mirror.

Swara rarely had remembrance of her getting ready like that after his departure to London for two weeks on a business trip. But now that he was returning back, she couldn't help herself but wear the ornaments back she chose to abandon for two weeks. Maybe the ornaments might beautify her look over the faint traces of black circles under her hazel eye and fading glow of her flawless skin.

Her man was someone who could make the autumn leaves- dried and crippled, into a shower of wild flowers- fragile and fresh in with just a glance of his pool of black orbs that seems endless like a night sky.  He was that very person who turned even her withering period look beautiful as he hold her in his arms.

Two weeks without her dear husband and Swara missed him dreadful enough that every night without him on her side, nights were nothing but a horrible nightmare and every day was spent in longing and thirst to feel his warmth on her cold skin, again. But then it was the kaleidoscope of vivid memories she had shared and lived with him, kept her breathing in the gloomy days.

Her cheeks burnt scarlet when she remembered him whisper against her ears huskily to wear the saree on their second anniversary, the day he would return probably before he departed to London unwillingly. Swara gently stroked the fabric she wore.

The following trip was the longest one comparing to the ones he had went leaving her behind which also consisted of their second anniversary- the homecoming day, today. She chuckled remembering how he made a video call with a grumpy face early morning for not having her beside him on their special day. Swara had a hard time convincing him of how they would meet by twilight and be together in the end of the day.

Now the thought of having him on her side in no less than an hour, already brought her emotions of excitement and thrill. Swara brushed her hair gently that fell upto her waist with a beam of smile.

She couldn't wait for the time to run faster so that she would melt in his arms and let all his warmth seep into her cold bones, hear the rhythmic heartbeat of his that sings verses only she would understand and stare into his dark orbs that emits endless love he had for her. She wanted to make a little surprise of picking him up from the airport.

Buzzing sound of her mobile on their mattress pulled back her attention. It has to be him, she knew. The lady stood up from the dresser and took her mobile with a wide smile at her mobile display his name "Sanskaar🌏❤️" and just before she could pick up the call, a pang of acute pain hit her nerves in her head that made her loose both- the vision and grip.

The mobile fell down on her floor while she winced in pain holding her head, her legs turned numb that it failed to keep her straight any longer. Swara collapsed on the floor, tears streamed down endlessly, black dots danced against her vision and her lips left out a soft yet painful wince.

The pain was too much to bare but even then her trembling fingers tried to stretch out for the mobile that buzzed, just few inches away from her reach. Her lips quivered and her petite frame shivered for the stress she had been putting to reach out the mobile.

"Please!"

Swara begged to herself in a whimmering tone to the disease that was slowly shutting off her sense and vision as well. The fear of dying without hearing his voice raged her heart harder than ever and ache was making it exhausted to fight any more. Her eyelids turned heavier as lead and before she knew, the lady was already drowned into the world of darkness much away from the light.

Hours later, when she opened her tired eyes Swara let out a soft mourn. Her headache still prevailed but very much bearable compared to the deadly pain she underwent hours ago. She still felt slightly dizzy but then she endured her giddiness and sat on the mattress. The first thought that crossed across her mind was about she being alive.

It took her a minute to recollect of what actually happened to her- she collapsed that she couldn't move her legs that had turned numb and fell unconscious in pain. Swara sighed heavily, numbness was one of the symptoms and caution to remind that she was fighting a battle against a invisible disease that was slowly killing her alive.

She wondered how she was on the mattress, there was no such memory after her failed mission of reaching her mobile to talk to him. Only then Swara's eyes widened, she turned to see the night sky and stars twinkling. Sanskaar must have arrived. She quickly stood up and ran her gaze all over the room in search of him.

With the walls as her support, Swara managed to walk out of her room calling out his name softly. The dim lights shone across the corridors and the hall that let the shadow of the things cast its shades. As she stepped her leg on the staircase, a thin thread tied on the ends of staircase loosened letting the multi colour papers shower upon her.

Swara was taken aback by the surprise but eventually a lips curved up for a beautiful smile and eyes sparkled in delight and tenderness. Sanskaar was back, she knew it. She took her further steps down the staircase and reached the main hall. Her patience was running out but her husband was busy playing the hide and seek game.

Roaming around in almost every room, Swara reached the hall once again with a frown gracing her beautiful face. How dare he make her miss him like that? But then her eyes told the different story of the yearning she had to reach him, just like a drought land craves for a little rain so it would finally quench it's thirst after drying and dying without any moisture.

Unconsciously her eyes fell on the paper lying down, secured under the ornamental lamp near the couch. Confused to see paper which was not there before, Swara held the red paper that was decorated with golden drawings of flowers. She opened the card only to witness the cursive letters written in golden glitters and it didn't take even a minute to realise it was Sanskaar's handwriting.

Hide and seek was never my game,
Relax and breathe.
I'm right there in my heaven
with the memories of you dancing
along with vivid bloomed, crushed petals
in my sight.

- Waiting for my Queen

Not a minute she stood their any longer as her legs automatically walked towards the backyard garden in haste. And her eyes softened enough when she saw his lean figure lightening the candles. Sanskaar paused his action and his lips curved up, she's here. The tables were arranged with dishes that created an aroma along with the scented candles he had been lightening up. A simple setup yet an aesthetic view to look at.  Swara took baby steps and slipped her arms around him from behind.

Sanskaar's eyes shut closed momentarily to not let the traitor tears that stood by the bay of his eyes melt and fall at her warmth. He turned himself letting his lady to fit in his embrace while his arms wrapped around her protectively as he pressed his cheek on her hair. The smile that she couldn't recover after his departure now spread brightly on her face as finally she was back home.

"I missed you."

Sanskaar heard her whisper slowly against his chest. Hell! He missed her too. There was not even a single moment he could spend in relief for leaving her back alone. Phones calls, video calls and text messages did not get him the tranquility he had when he would hold her in his arms like no after.

"Happy Anniversary, Love."

"Happiest Anniversary, Sanskaar."

Swara closed when she felt him gently place a kiss on her crown that still lingered. Her yearning has finally concluded as she was now bathed in pool of eternal bliss, her heartfelt prayer was answered and now beside her and she need not want anything else. Words were no more shared between the two in verbal terms, their eyes spoke in verses of laments they went through during the seperation while their lips remained curved up since they were finally together.

Like the gentleman he was, Sanskaar pulled the chair for her to get seated and he himself settled beside her. The dinner date went smoothly with all the teasing, laughing sessions and catching up all the information they had missed in the last two weeks. When they were done with eating, Sanskaar stood and outstretched his arms.

"Give me the honour of dancing with you tonight."

Swara shook her head as slapped his arm playfully before handing over hers in his and took few steps away from the setup. As a couple entwined their fingers and wrapped their arms around each other, they moved together in a slow pace with their eyes locked together.

Never in his life he was excited and impatient enough like the way he felt all throughout the journey back home. Sanskaar awaited to catch the glimpse of his beauty, the sun beam like smile and hues of rose colour her cheeks under his loving gaze. But all he found was her pale yet cold figure laid unconscious on the floor- that very remembrance thrashed his heart enough to get him killed, almost.

Admitting her in the hospital and doing the procedures was a faint history in his mind. The doctors were loosing hope on her case, the tumor is growing rapidly- they told. Sanskaar wished he could sweep away every suffering and discomfort Swara hid in those flicker of innocent smiles and gracious laughter.

Sanskaar delicately lifted her palm and ran his thumb on her fragile skin in circular patterns, the place where the IV drip needle was injected. The faint ache in her back palm and his concern filled gaze though made her confused, later the realisation dawned at her.

"San--"

"Shh!"

He placed his finger on her lips, not wanting Swara to complete the sentence. Swara raised her hand automatically as she rested it against his cheek and Sanskaar momentarily closed his eyes. Tears welled up her waterline and blurred her vision. How heartbreaking it should have been to see her wither painfully as he hold her in his arms with a smile while flames of helplessness burning him inside?

Sanskaar rested his forehead against hers, breathing together while his fingers withdrew the strands of locks that hid the side of her face. The beautiful flakes of hazel swam and glistened in tears. He didn't want to pick that very topic tonight and end up in tears of anguish both hid.

"Have I told you about how super gorgeous you look in the saree?"

Her cheeks burnt in brightest tint of red as she lowered her gaze and he chuckled softly. Honestly, Swara felt all her efforts were wasted before since she now stood before him with bare face and no accessories to charm her. Sanskaar and his ways of admiring beauty even in the shrinking, decaying substance always made her ponder from where he even got such sharp eyes and uncommon thoughts.

"Well, my dearest husband has keen eyes for stunning things."

Sanskaar grinned at that compliment thrown towards him, one of his lovely wife's tatics to pull out sweet words to him indirectly. He stroked his one slender finger cheeks on her warm cheeks and pushed her chin upward to meet her eyes again.

"I see! you love him so much, don't you?"

His breathe fanned against her face, fluttering her eyelids. That damn intense gaze of his always made every worries fade away in thin breeze of air and left her in daze, in his daze. Swara wished to put those beautiful serene emotions she felt in words that seems to small to bear the weight of her feelings. How could she express that strong illimitable emotion she felt for him?

"I do, ever that you can imagine."

Her eyes spoke the words he had already waited to hear all long and now that she admitted, Sanskaar's heart that ached with deepest wounds found her blissful words work like a soothing balm and quench the thirst of his burning soul. He didn't know how long he was blessed to see this beautiful face before she would be succumbed and go after her eternal peace. But until then, Sanskaar promised to cherish the lady who found spring in him and make sure to keep her contented until the very last.

Swara watched his eyes darkening with trail of thoughts and very soon retrieve back to those loving black ones, shining against the silvery light of the moon. Her husband mastered facading and would wear it like his second skin hiding away the bleeding scars, raw wounds and miserable face. He must have forgotten of how she could read him in a blink on an eye and differentiate every mask he wore with ease. Yet, today she would not voice them out- he needs her and she needs him. 

Wounding her arms around his nape, Swara brushed her lips against his. Sanskaar though froze in the moment of surprise, nevertheless pulled her petite figure much more closer to his embrace. The stars filled the pale corn into freshly turned ground. It was the promise of life in the darkness, a sense of warmth springing from the cold. As if two wanderers have found home, they held each other cozily and mellow in sense of belonging and gratitude. Sanskaar dipped his head and took her lips for a kiss that sealed unspoken words that was never confessed verbally. 

They didn't know if forever exist in reality nor there would be another tomorrow to hold on together and sip tranquility bliss that spreads into their veins and cells, bones and blood, and seeps into deepest depths of their heart and soul. But all they can do at the moment was to seal words of love confessions, embrace their warm touch against the cold breeze and look into each other's dawning orbs and fade away the dusk that awaits to conquer them while they desire a prayer together in their heart,

'Let the time desist!'

A/N: Word count: 2500 words.

I honestly wonder if this shot ever made you'll smile as it is supposed to do while reading. Was it even worth reading? Do let me know through your comments ❤️

Love,
Diya❤️