Standing at the window, peeking from around the curtains, she could see a shadow sitting on the bench. He'd returned every night for the past week, though she'd stopped leaving her window and shades open after the first two nights. Her resolve was crumbling too.
A flash of lightning and the crack of a tree branch startled her into movement. The storm. She'd heard people say that this would be the worst storm of the year. It had been moving towards their city over the past month, gathering strength and rain, blowing past towns and leaving ruin in its wake.
And yet, he hadn't moved from his perch. Why? Why did he insist on bringing back what he broke? He had done this to them and yet. And yet, he acted as if it was his heart that broke.
Another crack of lightning and she shuddered. Curse her weak heart. Only for him. She lost all sense when it came to him. She left everything for him and came to live with her brother because she fell in love. Not with him, but with his dance. He danced the way a poet wrote; fluid, sensual, passionately. It was his passion that drew her, and it was his passion that made him push her away. But her heart refused to listen.
Her brother was asleep in his room and as she passed by, she could hear his gentle snores. Grabbing an umbrella, she swung open the door and made her way to the man on the white bench.
"Come in. You'll fall sick." When had her voice choked up? When had the burning in her eyes started? He glanced up at her, his eyes just as full as hers. He'd been crying for hours, she could tell.
"Taani, please. Taani I'm sorry. I'm-" she stopped him before he could continue and repeated her earlier statement.
"Come in. You'll fall sick." She hated how hollow her voice sounded. She hated how hollow he'd made her. She barely felt anything since they'd parted ways.
Standing slowly, he brought his hand onto hers, holding the handle. At his first touch, she jerked her hand away as if burnt, leaving him to catch the falling object. Their eyes seemed to be engaged in a battle, neither willing to look away for the fear of the person in front of them disappearing. Unable to keep looking in the pool of tears, the pain in her heart making itself known, she tore herself away and began walking back towards the house, knowing he'd follow. ' He'd follow you anywhere and you know that. He's proven it, so why are you making it so tough on the both of you?' She knew. And yet, he'd left her like she was nothing. As much as she wished, he had said those things about her, about their relationship.
Glancing over her shoulder as she reached the door, she muttered, "Swayam is sleeping, take your shoes off at the door so the noise doesn't wake him up." With that, she took the umbrella from his hand and shook it off before placing it down by the door. She could feel his gaze burning into her. Why did he affect her so much? Would this feeling never go away?