Love is Red,
And so is the Rose,
But, What if I told you,
That you're my Blue?

The sun had settled far on the horizon, shading the whole sky with a tangy-orange hue. The clouds were proudly showing off their golden dress making every bird chirp in admiration.

"Tell me more.."

Liam embraced Niru with a big bear hug from behind, and wasn't trying to get away anytime soon.

Liam and Niru were spending some time together in their apartment. They were talking about random things and it ended up with Niru telling Liam about colours.

If Niru goes by the definition then it would be simple and short.

'Colour, the aspect of any object that may be described in terms of hue, lightness, and saturation.'

But, Niru was trying to link the colours with emotions to make Liam understand the colours better.

The golden rays hit Niru's face, giving her a mesmerising golden tint. She roamed her eyes far away from the window pane, staring at the sky with a faint smile.

"The sky is shading colours right now. Can you guess which colour?"

Niru suggested to which Liam trailed off, deep in his thoughts. He had never tried to guess any colour, but had always wondered about the tint, hue and shades of different colours.

What it might be like?
What does it feel like?
Most of all, what does it seem like?

But it was all his theories.
No one tried to know about his opinion and he never dared to share it with others due to his incorrigible fear of embarrassing himself.

In twenty years or so, Niru was the first person who asked him about the colours, fully aware that he wouldn't be able to provide the right answer, although she wasn't even looking for one.
Niru just wanted him to feel.. normal.

"You want to know my thoughts?" Liam asked in utter disbelief.
Niru paused for a while, she turned around to face him and nearly gasped at the beauty.

Liam's face was shining so bright, and warm, but it was his eyes that made her mind spin, and heart palpating again.
His hazel-brown eyes were giving the clouds a tough time with its beauty. The sun's rays fell on his eyes and it was as if the whole earth flashed with tints of browns and golden-yellows with sprinkles of gold.

It's like she was falling for him all over again.

"Yes.. tell me, what colour you painted the sky in your mind?"
Niru lovingly pecks his lips, making his cheeks tinted with a marvellous shade of pink.

"I.. always thought the sky was no ordinary colour, it wouldn't be plain, and dull. When it rains, I think of every emotion I feel- cold, relaxed, and sometimes scary too..."

Niru smiled a bit and held his hands, intertwining their hands as she speaks

"When it rains.. it's exactly how you described it. Cold and scary.. the shades of white mixed with dark."

Liam nodded, grinning from ear to ear.

"But now... The sun had settled far on the horizon..." Niru trailed off as an idea popped up, and she immediately pulled him more towards the window and opened it wide.
"Can you feel it?"

Niru added again and she lightly traced out his face where the golden rays fell. Like a fragile piece of art, she carefully stroked away a few strands of hair and tucked it behind his ears.

"Yes.. it's warm." Liam's voice trailed off when he actually felt his face warm but not hot.
It was calming warm.

"It's when the sky shades it's blue dress and wears the golden- a warm one. The warmth- it's golden-orange from the sun rays."

Liam's eyes brimmed with unshed tears, it was the first time he felt the golden rays...
Nobody told him the sun was golden, and warm.
Not scorching hot like how it's usually in the afternoon. He now knew that orange was something of warm nature and it definitely would be beautiful.

Niru lovingly stared at Liam, gently running her hands to wipe out the tears.

"What.. what is blue?" Liam asked in pure joy, like how a kid would ask, enjoying every bit of curiosity around the world.

Niru chuckles slightly amused at his innocent child-like attitude. When she met him for the first time, it was a very memorable moment of her life.

Liam and Niru had stumbled into each other too many times, at the cafe, outside the college campus, and at the bus stops. They crossed each other not knowing the other's presence but.. the strings of their heart connected on the fateful day, right outside the movie theatre.

Niru was trying to get to the theatre, the newly released Bollywood movie- Dear Jindagi was in full swing , but the weather suddenly poured out torrentially. Luckily, she clung to the walls underneath the nearby stores, which saved her from the merciless thunderstorm. But she still got drenched by the slanting, harsh raindrops.

In the midst of crowds, who were walking past Niru, Liam was the only one who paused briefly.

Niru's teeth clattered bearing the wrath of harsh raindrops, she tried to clench her jaws tight in order to stop it from clattering loudly but little noises eventually escaped her frail attempt. Niru felt ashamed and embarrassed when she noticed a strange, young guy standing still right in front of her, though not even glancing towards her.

Is he a bad person?
What's his motives..
Can he see my body through my drenched shirt?

Niru's head burst with negativity and she could only wrap her arms around herself in a protective manner.

Niru watched Liam silently as he began to gather his leather bag, throwing it over his shoulder. She was taken aback when Liam forwarded his dark green, fuzzy overcoat, yet still not looking at her.
Niru quietly tilted her head and gasped out loud when she saw a cane that he had tucked under his arm.

"Take it.." Liam said so gently.
Niru had never heard the voice so sweet and intoxicating.
She was mesmerised and it felt like she was under some kind of witchcraft, and she took whatever the gentle stranger gave to her.

A yellow umbrella and a green coat..

Sure she missed the movie, but she never regrets it.

Niru was left with such an impact that she craved more of the stranger, she wanted to hear his voice, everyday. She began to wonder what it'd be like when he laughs, when he smiles.

What a melody would it be!

The second time they met, it was pouring again. Fortunately, she had Liam's umbrella which she was to return that day but instead the umbrella stuck them underneath it.

And..
It was the very rain that brought the two together.

"You know...when I tried to return your umbrella?" Niru asked accompanied with a small laugh, Liam's face instantly broke into a huge shy smile, and gave her a nod.

"You thought I was a stalker right?" Liam's face became red but still had a bright smile. Niru was awestruck again, she cleared her thoughts and like a lightning hit her head, her eyes widened as if realising something.

"Liam..'' Niru grabbed his hand in a gentle hold and guided it towards his face where she rubbed his palm against his cherry-red cheeks.
"That's red.." Niru added, earning a gasp from Liam. He thought for a while and suddenly remembered that everytime he was embarrassed he was actually red!

The new information made him even more excited and nervous.

"Am I red now?" Liam asked, feeling his flaming face with both of his hands.

"Very much!!" Niru replied and let out a light laugh.

Niru cleared her throat and thought for a while.

"When you thought I was a stalker but then you found out that it wasn't like it at all. We sat and talked, and as we talked, we learned that we are so much alike..." Niru trailed off lost in her thoughts..

"It was like I was meeting someone for the first time in my life, I felt there was a person talking to me, laughing at my jokes and smiling at me."
Liam added, with his honey laced voice that adds extra sweetness to each and every word.

" It was the luckiest day of my life.." Niru added lost in her thoughts..

"Aw!" Cheered Liam, causing a sense of embarrassment rushed to her cheeks. Niru thought for a while and started again..
"The sky is blue but so does the ocean.. in fact it reflects the other, making its presence known-"

"That's blue.." Liam said before Niru could finish the sentence, Niru was taken aback but only smiled and slightly raised on her heels to peck on his lips again, Liam instantly smiled even more.

"Yes.. when a person smiles.. we couldn't help but grin as well. Happiness is spread through just one smile.. and it instantly transfers the smile from one person to the other..." Niru said lost in her thoughts, the sun was now hiding underneath the sea blanket on the western side.
"It's.. almost feels like a reflection... Like.. you wouldn't even know how and when but it just happens.. like magic."

Liam was silent, whereas Niru moved to hug him close, snuggling more into his warm embrace.

"Blue is also like the happiest moments...Like when it finally stops raining and the sky clears out..." Niru struggles to get the right words, trying her best to explain the colour to Liam.
After a bit of a pause, she resumes again.

"No matter how heavy the rain pours, how many days the clouds try to hide the sun.. the sky will however return to its happiest moment- Blue."

Liam thought for a while, lost in the memories he spent with her. How soothing her voice sounds whenever she explained something to him , not like the others who were annoyed by his constant questions about everything.

In fact, Niru was excited whenever Liam asked her about something and tried her hardest to make him understand.
Liam had never found anyone who was so easy going and patient with him.
He had never connected with anyone like Niru, not even his own parents.

Whenever he's with Niru- it's like every other worldly-worries just disappears, and he could only be happy with her.

Liam's parents had never really cared about him, may be partly because of his weakness but they had never really cared about his strengths either..

But Niru was different..
She encouraged him to learn music, his favourite hobby. She feels proud of Liam even if it's minimal things such as blowing a mere whistle.

Liam hugged her tight.. he felt his eyes moisten, and he snuggled more into her neck, as if Niru might disappear any second.

"I love you.." Liam said sniffling a bit.
Niru instantly distanced herself only to take a look at his face.

"I love you too..." Niru said while staring with love at Liam's innocent face, her eyes brimmed with tears too, but she wiped the tears off his face rather than hers.

'My innocent love'
Niru thought and cupped his face.

Liam reached into her hands and slowly worked his way up with the help of her arms. Until he felt her face, he cupped her face and inched closer.

Niru held her breath when Liam stared at her. To Niru, it almost felt like he could see her...
Liam inched even more closer to her with confidence.

"You are my blue."
Liam whispered, fanning Niru's face lightly, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes as Liam's lips gently brushed against her.

Niru's face turned red, shying delicately, Liam gently caressed her face and smiled to himself, experiencing something familiar..

'It's red'
Liam thought and deepened the kiss, not before whispering lightly as a breeze.
"Happy Holi, my love!"