I never believed that human being can stop the breathing for something. Probably I have not swam under the water.

But suddenly today I felt that breathlessness. I was in the mall buying something when I was rooted due to the person who was about to run into me.

As she just stopped her face inches away from mine my heart suddenly stopped beating and I felt I had better work that wasting my energy in breathing. Staring in her black orbs which shone to the light and moved like they felt the same what I was feeling right now.

“I love you” I uttered bringing her out of her trance. Her eyes drifted near to each other and she looked at me astounded.

How can I be so stupid. But I don't know at the same time why did I uttered those words.

“Excuse me?” she asked moving a bit away and my heart felt sinking as the distance between us increased. Was that natural behavior? I'm not sure.

I finally blinked my eyes when I felt that I was not in some alternate dimension. “I mean I'm sorry” I corrected myself taking a deep breath.

She rolled her eyes and trust me I have not seen cuteness of this level ever in my life. “That's fine” she said moving and I wished so badly that I had better things to say. But sadly I did not had words but just a kind of hollowness inside me.

Why am I feeling all this all of a sudden?

Wish I could meet her someday. I just wish that next time the time stops for more time and I can stare at her face for more time.

***.***

It was not my day. It did not bothered me anymore. I was termed as heartless and emotionless many a times. But I just needed a break and was sitting near the beach.

Water has a strange property to cool the anxiety of mind. And the blue colour is always soothing. I in took deep breaths to cool the anxiety growing inside me.

“Bad day is it?” I opened my eyes hearing a voice.

Destiny. Have I ever believed in it? May be I first time believed in it was the day I met her. And again she made me believe in it.

I had words running in my mind but the memory of last time just tied my tongue and I silenced myself. She was staring at the orange sky. And when the breeze touched her face she smiled widely closing her eyes. How peaceful.

Will I like to see anything else in this life. Definitely nothing compared to that smile. It was heavenly. And blissful.

I have never felt it all my life. I don't want to lose it again. “Scared of talking is it?” she asked and I smiled bowing my head. She read my thoughts just like that.

“Bad thing is not bad day but it will be bad if you give up” she said and I keenly listened to her. While she said many things and my bad day turned to out to be best. Can someone affect me so much. I never knew.

“Bye” she waved at me and I cursed myself for the loss of words I felt. “Actually” I gathered all my strength and initiated the talk.

“Can I know your name?” I asked her and her face broke into a wide smile. She had a melodious name just as her voice. “Ragini” she stretched her lips and I smiled back at her.

“Dev” I said. She smiled before turning. I wish I should have spoken to her more and known her more. But why it did not happen? I felt bad suddenly.

I tried to get hold of my emotions but nothing helped.

I visited that beach more often. But I could not find her. Why cant my destiny work again? I was frustrated by a month ended leaving me alone.

***.***
I was in a party of my family. Though it was crowded I felt lonely. Lately I had realized Ragini had affected me more than I thought. I needed her so badly. The glass in my hand broke piercing through the skin. But it did not pain. Not even for a second.

Because my heart was going through a greater pain right now.

“Hey” I heard her voice again. No no. She can't be here. I opened my eyes to look at her. She was looking worried at my wound. She looked around and found a first aid kit. She tied a bandaid after applying the ointment to my wound.

Suddenly the pain awoke. Why is it that if she is near me I feel pain happiness, calmness everything but when she isn't there I don't feel anything.

I jerked my hand out of her hold. The emotions were maddening me and I could not tolerate it more. I walked out leaving her behind.

My heart cried. It did not wanted to miss her. But for a person like me these maddening emotions were undesirable. I closed my eyes as the breeze touched my face and it brought her fragrance along.

I turned to hold her by her shoulders. I looked into her calm eyes with my furious eyes.

“Why can't you just leave me alone?” I gritted my teeth. “Why should I leave you alone?” she asked me smiling.

“Because you can't be with me right?” my hold loosened when her eyes sparkled. “I never said that” she whispered.

“I”my eyes shut not able to look around. “I don't know what is all this? I just feel like I don't want you to go away from me every time. Because” I gulped the sore lump.

“Because I don't know when my destiny will give up and I lose you like I lost everyone who was in my life” I felt helpless while I uttered all those words.

Heart beats fast colours and promises
How to be brave how can I love when I'm afraid to fall.
Watching you stand alone all of my doubts suddenly goes away some how
One step closer...I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you for thousand years I will love you for thousand years.

She moved closer to me and placed her hand to caress my cheek. I touched her forehead with mine.

“Then don't let me go” she whispered and I looked into her eyes while they sparkled. And suddenly her image started disappearing.

I moved to touch her but she just moved more and more away from me. “I won't let you go... I won't” I tried holding her hand.

But all in vain. Was she just in my imagination all these while. But it felt so real. Why? Why do I feel that pain increasing in my heart.

After that night I was more and more frustrated. What was all that? Why did I even imagine her. Was she really here?

I was restless and felt I will remain the same for rest of my life.
But then the day came. Everything changed.

I was in the charity event in a hospital built in my mother's name. After she left nothing was as before. Dad married someone to get rid of his loneliness which made me more lonely.

I walked through the wards and looked at the people who were ill and were being cared. And my steps stopped at a particular ward.

There she was lying unconscious many machines attached to her. Was I dreaming now?

My steps were heavy when I entered the ward. My body collapsed when I neared her.

A lady sitting on the opposite looked at me confused. “Yes?” she asked and I was still looking at Ragini. Was her name even Ragini? I don't even know.

I controlled my emotions and looked at the lady. When my hand accidentally touched Ragini's finger I felt her moving. The lady was surprised.

“Ragini baby are you listening?” she moved to the lifeless body of Ragini. That means she was really Ragini. But how can I feel her when she was never there.

***.****

I did not blinked my eyes when I heard her mother. “That was when she met with the accident and ended up here” she wiped the tear. I remembered the day I met her on the beach and imagined the accident happened after that.

I was right there when her car was hit by the truck. Only thing I did not realize it. And the ground under me slipped and I felt dead. I looked at her face.

I remembered her words in the party. 'Don't let me go then' those words ringed in my mind. I moved slowly to touch her face and finally could cup it with all the strength I had.

“I will not let you go” I touched her side head and buried my head beside her head and let out the tears which had formed in my eyes.

***.***

I was again at the same beach. “Dev” I smiled when I heard her voice. “Um” I hummed turning. “Sun is getting low” she said and I smiled looking at her while she managed our kid who was throwing all the tantrums to stay in her arms.

“Coming” I walked to her and we walked on the shore and the orange sky spread its shine.

It has been three years we are married and four years that she woke up from her eternal sleep for me.

I don't know it was destiny I met her. But I needed her and she needed me equally and we realized it though in the first meet but it took us years to come together.

And I don't regret. I don't regret anything with her. As far as she is in my life nothing really matters.

The stone heart Dev is a changed man and Mrs. Ragini is the sweet home maker. That's all really mattered.