Suddenly Electricity came. But remained hugging.
After what felt like an eternity, she pulled back slightly, her face tear-streaked and red. “Thank you, Vishu,” she whispered, “and I mean it.”
I cupped her face in my hands, wiping away the remaining tears. “Don’t cry anymore. All is well. I’m here, okay?” I gently kissed her forehead.
She closed her eyes, and we hugged again. I knew she was infected with Covid, possibly with other things, but her trauma was the biggest infection, and the one I needed to fix, so I stood beside her. I made myself a silent promise; I would be there for her always. The fairy tale had turned into a nightmare. And I knew, with a deep, aching certainty, that I would do everything in my power to help her find her way back to the light.
We parted the hug and later I have seenalot of laundry is there in her room. I picked them up and she told “hey vishu please drop it there. I will wash it when im ok” Me: it was my mistaken I didn’t checked it yet. Anyway I will do it Anasooya: Please Vishu try to understand. My inner… before completing the sentence I have seen some of her oanties in the laundry me:yeah your inners are here. So?
Anasooya: please I will do it
Me: Arey chup. Every human wears inners so what? Only the person who wears it only will wash it? Then if that person gone ill then what he or she will do? Anasooya kept quiet.
Me: don’t worry. I will wash it. See keeping the whole room clean is also a part of Covid quarantine. you should have good food, good and clean dress etc.
While iam going back from the room she kept my hand and told “The girl whom you are gonna marry is very fortunate, take my word” I just smiled and patted on her face and left.
I couldn’t sleep properly that day. I heard her walking sounds from the room also. I thoughts that distracted my sleep was the one which she told me told “The girl whom you are gonna marry is very fortunate, take my word”. It kept beating on my head. Yes I can feel that once again I am feeling the
same emotion that I felt with zarah to my sister in law also. I tried to suppress my thoughts by finding my own solutions like she is my sister in law, she is elder but atlast my mind keep on saying me, she is not your sister in law, she is a good behaved bold beautiful lady. Love her. The conluding statement that my Mind and Brain told me was “LOVE HER, LOVE HER AND LOVE HER”.
Day 5
The pale morning light crept through the window, nudging me awake. After a quiet yoga routine – a ritual for calming the anxieties that had become my constant companions – I headed to the kitchen.
Today’s breakfast was kesari, a vibrant, saffron-infused semolina sweet. I poured it into a bowl, its warmth a promise of comfort. I placed it, along with her medications, outside her door, a silent offering.
Then came the laundry. The soft, delicate fabric of her inners required a gentle hand, a far cry from the rough tumble of the washing machine. I carefully washed them, a simple task that felt imbued with a
strange tenderness. Panties, just like our underwear. They were merely clothes, yet they felt… different.
Finally, the chores done, I dialed Dr. Daksha. I needed her wisdom, her perspective as a woman and a trained professional. “I needed to tell you,” I began, my voice a little hesitant, “about what Anasooya
said yesterday, and how I’m feeling…” I recounted the conversation, the vulnerability, the confusing joy and fear that had taken root in my heart.
Dr. Sharma listened patiently. “It’s good that you’re acknowledging these feelings,” she finally said. “If your love is strong, and you’re prepared to face the potential consequences with both families, then consider sharing your truth. Otherwise, keep it to yourself.”
Her words held weight, but I needed more. “Hey, please tell me honestly, what do you think? Give me a suggestion as a friend.”
There was a pause, a brief silence that felt like an eternity. Then, Dr. Daksha’s voice, warm and full of encouragement, cut through the air: “Go ahead, man.”
That’s all it took. Those two simple words, “Go ahead,” ignited a flame within me. My heart, which had been a hesitant, fluttering bird, suddenly beat with purpose. The fear hadn’t vanished, but it no longer held me captive. A wave of resolve washed over me. The kesari, the laundry, the quiet morning – it had all led to this moment. I knew what I had to do. I would tell her. I would lay bare the chaotic, beautiful truth of what was blossoming within me. I would open up to her, and face whatever came next, with everything I had.
The fifth day of her quarantine had flown by in a haze of overthinking. I’d taken a leave, a fact I conveniently omitted, and spent the day sprawled on the sofa, meticulously dissecting my plan. How exactly do I tell Anasuya that I’m hopelessly, irrevocably in love with her? The idea of just blurting it out felt like a reckless dive into a very shallow pool. So, I decided on a slow burn, a gentle unfurling of my feelings. That evening, after dinner, we fell into our usual routine, leaning against opposite walls. And in a surprising twist, it was Anasuya who initiated the conversation. She was planning to take a two-day break, she said, the Corona fatigue finally catching up to her.
A wave of relief washed over me. Two days. Two whole days of her being relaxed, of her not being consumed by work. Two days for her to actually consider what my heart had been yearning to say. I decided to subtly steer our conversation towards matters of the heart.
“Anu,” I started, trying to sound casual. “Yeah, Vishu, tell me.”