"It is strange how we describe the beginning of love as 'falling' ,
When in fact,it is the end that is the fall.
Love raises us up, higher than we ever dreamed possible.
And the higher you go, the greater the fall when it is over."
-Ranata Suzuki
__________________________________________________________

The smell of food draws me to the kitchen. I find Numair tossing the pan his back facing me. I watch him work, the comfort and agility with which he worked in the kitchen amazed me. Reducing the flame of the stove he moves to the counter top where tomatoes, onions and beans await him. I watch his muscles flex as he chops up the vegetables on the counter.

Chop, chop, chop his knife moves effortlessly slicing the tomatoes. He slides the sliced tomatoes towards the left. The onion from his right goes next to the sacrificial altar. He slices it into thin slices placing it beside the tomatoes. His biceps straining under his cream tee. His hair glistens, still wet from the shower.

'If you are done drooling, you can come inside and help me cook.' His voice interrupts me though he still faces away from me. I walk across the tiled floor, the cold seeping into my feet.

'You act as if you have eyes on the back of your head!' I accuse walking towards him, placing a casual hand on his arm.

He smiles looking down at me,'I don't, but I can sense you. Feel that you are near me. The closer you are the better I feel.' His towering height means I have to tilt my head to meet his almond brown eyes.

'When you are away, there is an emptiness within me. Like a part of me is missing.' He adds after a pause.

My gaze finds only honesty in his eyes.

'Ok, I'll help you. You don't have to flatter me to make me work.' I smirk. 'What do I do?'

'Sauté the tomatoes and onions, can you?'

'Sure' I say. Standing on my tip toes I place a kiss on his cheek. Before he can grab me I move away with the tomatoes and onions to the stove.

I find myself smiling at the memory. He'd said his life was incomplete without me but now I was the one living an incomplete life.

Marrying him was the best decision I'd made, no regrets there although we had taken the decision at a very young age. I was only 21 and him 22. There is no other reason than that, that we were young, carefree and very very much in love.

We had moved in together into a small apartment. Once my studies ended I applied for a job at the same hospital he worked at, Thumb Bay. Our lives were set into a routine. Numair and I would begin our day early. We left home in the quiet stillness of the morning to reach the hospital where we worked, him as an anesthetist and I a general physician. Our busy day ended in the evening when we returned home stopping at Smile, the orphanage we volunteered at. Meeting the kids everyday was a custom I had continued even after our marriage and now Numair also joined me on these rounds. The kids lit up upon seeing me, some of them awaited my arrival. I had become a part of their lives and they mine.

Weekends we would spend outside, sometimes shopping for grocery or visiting a new mall or a tourist spot. Life was simple and I was happy.

We found joy in the most mundane activities. Having each other was enough.

'Look what I found!' I hear his voice calling me from the drawing room of our miniature one bedroom flat. We both had just started working, we didn't have the income to rent out a bigger flat. Besides for what do we need a two bedroom apartment?

I enter the drawing room to see him holding a bouquet of flowers, a beautiful array of red roses circling a lone yellow rose at its center , 'For you' he says walking towards me, his eyes sparkling with happiness. His eyes capture mine as he walks to a surprised, blushing me and wraps himself around me squishing the flowers between us.

'Hey! The flowers!' I playfully shove him away taking the bouquet placing it gently in a vase on our dining table.

When I turn he's standing behind me, his expression is filled with tender adoration. I wrap my
hands around him standing on my tip toes my feet touching his, 'Thank you' I whisper my teeth grazing his ear.

'Oh darling, you really shouldn't have done that.'

'Hey!' I squeal as he lifts me off the ground quite easily. I hold on tighter to him, burying my face in the crook of his neck inhaling him. He places me on the table so that we are at eye level. I fold my legs around him pulling him to me and like a magnet towards iron he comes closer to me a sliver of space left between us. I lift my chocolate brown eyes to the face that I have fallen in love with. The hunger in his eyes makes me suck in my breath. My eyes rove over his dark hair combed to the side, his hawk like nose and those lips that I have kissed a hundred times.

Even now, even after nine months of marriage I still feel the same around him. I'm tightly wrapped around him, my hands around his neck, my legs circling his waist. He seems to be observing my face too. Entranced with each other our gazes stay interlocked. He lowers his head, his warm hands sliding under my neck to the back of my head his fingers winding their way through my hair, tilting it upwards to meet his lips.

Breaking free of the memory I subconsciously touch my lips. How long has it been since his have last touched mine!

'It's the first time I'm seeing a girl touch her own lips and blush.' I turn around alarmed to find William who goes by Liam standing near me. His dark blue jeans is paired with a gray hoodie owing to the cold weather.

I chuck a book at him 'Get lost.' I mutter.

Once again I was absorbed in my memories so much that I hadn't noticed anyone around me.

'Our shift is over, I came around to see what's taking you so long to find.' He's still here. This is one persistent guy. 'Do you want to walk home with me?'

'My home is barely five minutes away, I can manage.' I turn away from him heading to the counter to grab my purse. After signing the library log I head out.

Cold wind attacks me as I step outside onto the pavement. I pull the cap of my maroon hoodie over my head to bar the chilly wind. I place my hands in my pockets and walk. The sky is a dreary gray today. Clouds cover the vast blue expanse. I wait for the lights to go green, rocking on my heels.

'You don't need to be so rude. A simple 'no' would have worked fine too.' I hear Liam behind me.
His breath is uneven as he catches up with me. His hair stick up in all directions blown by the wind.

'I'm sorry'. I say turning around to face him.'I was just thinking...about something and you caught me off guard.'

His face breaks into a smile, bottle green eyes shaded by his dark eyelashes look at me, 'Apology accepted.' he tips his hat in my direction. I offer him a smile.

'See you tomorrow?' With that he leaves and I cross the road as the light turns green.

Soon I'm home, I open the gate with my key and enter. My siblings' voice comes from the room at the far end of the corridor. Ziyan's room. Dad looks up from his newspaper.

'How was your day?'

'Normal. Books, books ,books.' I reply with a wry smile.'What about you?'

'It was a fruitful day, finalized few more orders to Ford. They will be here in a month I believe.'

'Oh, how's Ziyan doing?' My brother had started working along with my dad after his education. He has been working for two years now.

'I had expected him to be his immature self ,surprisingly he's a changed person at work. All seriousness and no play. He is doing well. A promotion might be his way.' He says with a wink.

'It is time you retire anyways.' I respond.

I head to my room and lie on my bed staring at the opposite wall. Thoughts chasing one another in my always worked up mind. Ziyan rushes into the room with an ecstatic grin.

'Great you are home,' As if I'd go anywhere else. He jumps onto the bed jostling me.

'Why are you lying down ? Get up!' He pulls my hand nearly pulling it out 'Ow Ziyan what do you want?' It's surprising how he's the eldest and yet the most immature.

'We are going to The Global Fair and you are coming with us.' I sit cross legged on my bed glaring at him.

The Global Fair, the annual fair was huge which meant walking, walking and more walking and you still wouldn't see the whole place. It was noisy as all fairs are with too many lights. And of course hordes of people who you can bump into. No way was I going.

'Says who?' I retort.

'Don't be a spoilsport now, I'll buy you cotton candy and popcorn!'

'I'm not four anymore Ziyan.' I roll my eyes at him.

'Please?'

'I'm tired. I just came home. My feet need rest.'

'Please?'

'No, you know I don't go anywhere and that place is always crowded. I'd rather stay at home.'

'It's a fair, it's supposed to be crowded.'

'No'

'We will have fun on the rides. The giant wheel and Columbus. You used to love them.'

'No'

'Uh, the giant ship then? Or Dashing cars?'

'No'

'The log flume!' Well that is my favorite but no I wouldn't sacrifice sleep and tire my legs for that. Ziyan expectantly looks at me.

'No' I respond once again.

'You are mean.' With that he walks out of the room.

'Thanks' I yell at his retreating figure snuggling into my blanket once again.

A little while passes and Eliza comes barging in, the door slamming shut behind her, I wince, 'You really are not coming?' She asks from the green room, rummaging through her closet for clothes.

She pulls out a hanger shakes her head and roughly shoves it back in. Another dress follows to which she does the same. Knowing she is going to be doing that for sometime I flip the pillow onto my face blocking out as much noise as I can.

'Hello' I peek out, she raises her eyes at me.'I asked you something!'

'Oh, no I'm not coming.'

'Ira is coming too, you know. I invited her over to join us. She's new......well not technically new but it's been a while since she's been here. She was saying she hasn't been anywhere yet with all the unpacking and arranging. I barely remember what she was like when we were kids.'

Eliza rambles on, I peek out again to see her trying on a sandal then kicking it off with a 'Nah'

'Ira who?' I ask.

'Uncle Adam's daughter, Ira.'

'Why is she here?' I wonder aloud. 'She was like you all parties and friends...which is why I hung out with Maaz.'

'Cool, I like her so much already' I sigh, Eliza liked almost everybody.

Her chirpy personality allowed her to easily weasel her way into people's hearts. She could find a topic to talk to anyone at any time.

My sleep driven away. I get up and place the pillow on my lap. I watch her as she applies a stroke of eyeliner then mascara and finally a dab of bright red lipstick. She combs her shoulder length black hair.

'It would be fun if you come. I could use your advice on what to buy. Ziyan wouldn't be of any help. Would Ira be helpful?' She trails off thinking.

She settles for her black platform heels. A small silk clutch completes her dress up session.

'Okay then, see you later.' She casts one last look at the mirror and comes over to give me a quick side hug.'Do you want me to get you anything?' She asks.

'Maybe some peace?' With a dramatic eye roll she walks out.

***