The autumn trees shattered their leaves and the air was cold. He kept staring her beautiful face which was glowing in the sunlight. The soothing sunlight. Wasn't it strange how the same annoying sunlight in the summer makes you feel heavenly in winter morning.

The oxygen craving of his lungs felt enormous this time when he let out a heavy breath emptying the lung to intake equal amount of oxygen.

Some ice dust flew away from his mouth. He moved his eye lashes with much difficulty this time. His throat was dry and itchy.

As far as his eyes could see it was white. Why isn't it calming him?

***.***

Sanskar was looking at his watch repeatedly while his mother was nagging his dad. And when he saw Jenny arriving his heart beat rose to infinity as he expected Ragini to be with her. But Jenny was alone today. His shoulder dropped.

Sunday was the only day of the week when he could see Ragini and whole week he used to wait for it. If he did not see her today he had to wait for one more week.

“Jenny” he finally called her after thinking a lot. Jenny turned and looked at him cocking her one eye brow. “Um” he struggled to initiate the talk. “Do I know you?” she asked to which his confidence dropped to a pit.

She was surely gonna think him as a pervert. Worst a person who intends to hurt her sister. He gathered all the confidence back. “You don't know me but I know you” he looked at Jenny who was looking at him and slowly her face was covering with annoyance.

“I mean I'm not a stalker. I have been seeing you” he paused when Jenny fumed. “I mean not that type of seeing. It's just normal seeing with the eyes” he gulped in the spit.

Now Jenny crossed her arms. “I mean I have been seeing Ragini sing in choir and you accompanying her to church and today you are alone” he said looking around. “So?” Jenny raised her one eye brow. 'Why is she having a hitler sister. Couldn't her parents have one more sweet child?' he thought looking up.

He then looked at Jenny. “So nothing. Have a good day and bye” he said and turned to leave when he heard her.

“She is fine. Just that she was remembering mom a lot. Today is her death anniversary” Jenny said sadly and somewhere imagining how Ragini will be tolerating the pain pierced his heart which started bleeding.

He let out a deep breath to cool his building emotions. “Can I meet her?” he asked feeling helpless. Jenny nodded her head and gave an address of their farm.

He rushed out of the church in hurry. Mr and Mrs D' Costa watched him and looked at each other confused. “Your son is so strange” Mr. D'Costa nodded his head. “After all he is your son” Mrs. D' Costa walked inside the church with attitude.

Sanskar stopped at the gate of the farm. It was a beautiful farm with a scarecrow in the middle of it. He scanned across it to find Ragini on her wheelchair near the scarecrow.

He panted for breath bending his body. After gaining the normal speed of his heart he moved inside the farm. Ragini was facing her back. She was looking at the horizon.

Sanskar walked and stood beside her. Ragini who sensed his presence turned her gaze to him and saw him looking in the direction she was watching.

“What are you doing here?” she turned her wheelchair. “Hi. By the way my name is Sanskar. We aren't introduced properly” he said smiling at her.

“Hi” she smiled at him. “What are you doing here?” asked she. “Um. Just couldn't stand one more hour without seeing you” he said honestly which made her cheeks go crimson. She turned her wheelchair back to the original position and stared the mountains at the horizon. Sanskar sat beside her and kept watching the same mountains.

It looked like they did not needed any words to communicate but just the silence. And the sound of their racing heart beats. Both knew what effect they had on each other.

Time passed and Sanskar had become an integral part of Ragini's life now. They completely enjoyed being with each other for no reason.

“You believe in dreams?” Ragini broke the silence when they were near the same scare crow in her farm. Sanskar looked at her. She turned to meet his gaze.

“Mumma used to say dreams decide our destiny. They define us” she said and there was this light drop at the edge. Sanskar reached for her eye and wiped it off.

“What have I told about dropping tears when you remember your mom?” he asked softly. She looked into his eyes and smiled. “That she will crying too” she said with low tone. He bent forward to kiss her forehead. “You are brave. Brave than anyone will be” he said touching her forehead with his.

She nodded her head closing her eyes feeling his care. She had always felt the concern people show as sympathy but the care and concern Sanskar showed always felt different. She had that craving for his care always for a strange reason.

“You were talking about dreams” he said when she placed her head on his shoulder. “Do you believe in dreams?” she repeated her question.

“I used to. Then I studied science and realized everything in the world has a damn reason. And dreams are just the replay of our subconscious mind” said he looking at the mountains.

“You believe in dreams?” asked he. “Sadly I'm Arts student with unlimited imagination” she chuckled. “So tell me more about your dreams” he looked at her.

The sun moved and the colour of the sky changed.

“And finally I have a dream to be in this place” she said. “What place?” asked he curious. “I don't know. I always see that place. It's a beautiful house on the hill and on it's other end there is this beautiful and heavenly meadow” she said with a wide smile.

Sanskar smiled. “You don't have any dream?” asked she resting her chin on his shoulder. “Nope” he said shrugging his shoulders.

“That's impossible” she rested back on her wheelchair. “You might have had a dream when you were younger at least” she said bending her head.

“Um. I remember one” he said looking at her. “Tell me” she had that beautiful smile which could make him insane at the same moment.

“It's weird” he said shuffling his hair from back. “Come on. I know weirder things about you alright?” she gave him a cheeky smile.

“I was a mad patriotic when I was a kid. So much that my age kids used to laugh at me” he said remembering his childhood. “I had a dream that someday I will become an army officer and show them how mad of a patriotic I am” he said smiling at himself.

“Loving your country isn't awful neither it is weird. It should be actually common” Ragini smiled at him. “Now don't tease me” he said looking down.

“I'm not teasing you Sanskar. It is your dream and you can still fulfill it” said Ragini hopefully. “Are you crazy? You know how hard is military training?” he asked her horrified.

“I know. And I know you will pass it in a better way than anyone. You know why?” she smiled. “Why?” asked he.

“Because you love your mother land and you will do it for her” she said proudly. They kept looking into each others eyes. Time seemed stopped at that moment.

“Sanky” they heard Jenny's voice which broke their eye lock. He got up and pushed Ragini's wheelchair towards Jenny. “Uncle called me and said he is trying to reach from half an hour” Jenny showed her phone.

“My dad has perfect timing” he said picking his phone from the jeep. “Waise you should return home and check the weather instead of spending more time hitting on to my sister” Jenny whispered making Sanskar choke and cough.

“Hey what happened?” asked Ragini worried. “Pollution” he said controlling his cough and glared Jenny who winked at him.

“I will meet you tomorrow” he ignited the jeep after sitting inside and drove it towards his home.

“He likes you” Jenny whispered in Ragini's ear while pushing her wheelchair. “Shut up Jen” Ragini hit her sister playfully nodding her head. “What nobody believes truth” she complained. “Shut your mouth” said Ragini while they entered the home.

****.****

Sanskar was reading the newspaper and having his cup of tea. His house door bell rang. “I will check” his dad walked to the door.

Sanskar's eyes stopped at a particular advertisement. “Jesus” he heard his dad's cry and looked at the door. There was a letter in his Dad's hand.

“Guess what your study Visa and loan is approved for you MBA in London University son” his dad walked to him and hugged with joy.

Sanskar's eyes moved to the newspaper. There was a interview call for the army posts. His eyes were fixed on the advertisement.

****.***

Mr and Mrs D'Costa were interacting with the guests in the party. Sanskar's father wanted to celebrate his son's achievement and let the world know how happy he was.

Ragini greeted Mr and Mrs. D' Costa. “Sanskar?” she asked Sanskar's mother. “I don't know he is getting ready as if it's his wedding today” Mrs D' Costa laughed. “If it was also my sister would have been aware of it” Jenny whispered in Ragini's ears making her frown.

“Mind to leave me till his room will you?” asked Ragini. “Of course sister. I already feel like bridesmaid.” Jenny pushed Ragini's wheelchair. “You are a pain” Ragini nodded her head.

“Sanskar” she called peeping inside his room. Sanskar walked to her and made her enter his room. He sat on the bed and bowed his head. “Hey” Ragini ruffled his hair.

He forwarded a letter to her. She took it and read it. “Oh My God. You are selected to join the army and you have to leave tomorrow” Ragini looked at him with surprise.

He nodded his head looking down. “Aren't you happy?” asked she bending her head. “I am. But what about dad's dream?” he looked up at her.

“You spoke to him?” asked she and he nodded his head bowing it back. “You don't know your dad's real dream then” she smiled and he looked at her.

“Parent's dream is to see us fulfilling our dreams. Just talk to him once” said she placing her hand on his shoulder. “But” he said confused. “You trust me?” asked she and he nodded his head in a yes.

“Come” she took him out in the party. She pointed at his dad and signed Sanskar to talk. He took a deep breath walking towards his dad.

***.****

He heard foot steps this time. “The radio signal died here” he heard a voice and his eye lashes moved a bit.

He could no more open his eyes. His nose felt something blocking the way to oxygen. He tried moving his lips but could not. He could hear voices but he himself could not create one.

His heart was freezing with the rate of seconds

***.***

His dad was sitting on the dining table broken. “Dad” Sanskar knelt in front of his dad. “I'm sorry” he said sadly. “I disappointed you” he said as the tear tripped his eye.

His dad who was in deep thoughts from last night looked up at his son. He was wearing a military dress. “I want a medal on this Republic Day” his dad smiled through his tears.

Sanskar pounced immediately to hug his dad who burst into a bitter cry. “I disappointed you as a dad son when I slapped you last night for telling me about your real dreams. Trust me I was scared to lose you” his dad patted Sanskar's back.

“Then Ragini spoke to me and made me understand how important and noble your dream is and how courageous my son is who is ready to sacrifice his bright future for his country's bright future” Mr. D'costa had that pride in his eyes.

“I'm so proud of you son” Mr. D' Costa hugged his son again.

“Sanky see I have packed all the stuff okay and see don't eat anything and everything” his mom walked out with a bag.

Sanskar stood up and looked at his mother who was trying to show that she is very brave. He walked to her and hugged her tightly.

“Now I know from where I get that will power. You are the best mother in the world” Sanskar spoke and his mother covered him.

“That's because you are the best son in the world” she caressed his cheek kissing his forehead lovingly.

****.****

Sanskar stood there processing his thoughts while Ragini stared him confused. “Er. Actually” he initiated the talk finally.

He heard the honk of the Jeep.

Tune mujhey Jeene ka hunar Diya.

Mujhe jeena sikha diya marna sikha diya teri wafavo ne insaan bana diya.

“I will be back soon” he ran towards the jeep. He looked at Jenny who mouthed him “You are a jerk” and he smiled increasing his speed towards the jeep.

Ragini saw his jeep disappearing.

****.****

Sanskar's training had been incredible and he got a high position soon with his hard work. He used to write to Ragini every month about his well being.

Ragini was inserting the thread in the needle when it hurt her finger. “Ouch” she screamed. “What happened?” Jenny asked concerned.

“Nothing just a needle” she turned back.

But her heart wasn't at peace. She felt a weird uneasiness building within her.

Meanwhile in the snow covered himalayas.

“There I see a hand” one of the soldier screamed. All of them rushed and finally brought the frozen body of Sanskar out of the ice.

“He is the Captain Sanskar who went missing due to the land slides last week” said one of them confirming. “Take him take him” their chief ordered.

They placed him inside the ambulance reaching the foot of the hill. “His pulse is dropping” the soldier who checked his pulse in the ambulance said.

“He is a brave man. He survived a week under the ice. We have to save this brave heart” their chief said and commanded the driver to speed up the ambulance.

***.***

She stared blankly. Nothing around her made sense.

There was a scream she heard. Then there was firing of rifles. Her barrier to tears bust and she collapsed out of her wheelchair.

That was it he was sleeping in eternal sleep.

She cried and the sky cried hearing her cry.

***.****

Mrs D' Costa walked inside Ragini's room. She was staring the wall blankly. And  tears were just dropping out and she did not bothered to wipe them off.

“Ragu” Mrs. D' Costa caressed her hair and controlled her tears. “I sent him there Aunty. I killed him” she burst into a bitter cry hugging Mrs D' Costa.

“You gave him the meaning to his life. Look around people are so proud of in this town. The same town which considered him as a useless young man” Mrs D' Costa consoled him.

“Take this” she forwarded an envelop. “Sanskar gave me while he was leaving. He said he will return and give to you by himself and if he did not return then...” Mrs. D' Costa stopped controlling her throat.

She rushed out of there leaving Ragini with the envelop.

Ragini opened it and started reading.

“Dear Ragini,

If you are reading this letter it means two things. Either I'm no more in this world or I am standing behind the door of your room after placing it in your bed waiting for your reply.

I want to confess that the day I saw you first I had fallen for you . So deeply that it was the most special feeling I ever felt. But I could never gathered the courage to tell you how much I love you...”

She bent her head not able to read further. She wiped her tears and continued reading it.

“ If I'm there I will surely show you what you mean to me. But suppose I wont be there which trust me I don't want to do but If I'm not there I want you to visit my room and open that left drawer of the side table and the key is in the envelop. And trust me I want you to be proud of me rather than crying” she smiled reading the final lines.

****.****

Ragini opened the drawer with the key and found a legal paper. Jenny who was with her took and analyzed it. “He was jerk really” she smiled dropping a tear. Ragini looked at her confused.

“Come” said Jenny taking her out.

***.***

After driving for one hour they reached a place. It was a beautiful house on the hill with a beautiful meadow on the other side.

It was same as that Ragini dreamed of all her life.

“This is our old house when we used to live with mom. And Dad had lost it to the auctioning. I can't believe that jerk bought it and named it in your name” Jenny revealed.

“Why don't I remember this house?” asked Ragini. “Because you stayed with grandmaa then and rarely used to come here” said Jenny looking around.

Ragini remembered Sanskar's words about subconscious mind.

She pushed her wheel chair towards the balcony which opened towards the meadow. She found Sanskar smiling at her.

“My dream fulfilled now it's time for your dreams. Live your dreams Ragini” there was a craft which had this written with wood.

She smiled through her tear.

What did I tell about crying remembering someone' she heard his voice near her ears. “They will cry too” she wiped the tear at the edge with a wide smile on her face