Night Changes

CHAPTER 35

  Jassi took my hand in his as we sat on the park bench. I put my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes.

  I don't know why things aren't going quite well for the last few days. No, nothing mentionable happened, it was just my fun life with Jassi, Ritz and Ro. But..I was having those nightmares. Again. These 5 months were the best time of my life and not once had I looked back to my past. Not once had I dwelled on the horrible scene of fire and ashes that unfolded before me. Those nightmares never got back to me. They are coming back now. And whenever it does, trust me, things always go downright horrible for me.

It's like- a kind of warning God gives me you know? I have never been very religious, but somehow I knew bad things always followed when my nightmares haunted me.

  So..what bad was on the way? I sighed. Who knows..maybe Jassi was going to walk out of my life again?

The thought itself sent shivers down my spine. No, no. I can't afford to lose him. Not now. Things were different before. I liked him, yes, but I wasn't that attached to him. But now..I..I love him.

"You're doing that again," Jassi sighed.

"What?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

  "You zoned out, miss,"

  "Yeah. Um..Sorry,"

   "Relax, Aly. I know your nightmares are terrible, but it's a part of you now. You have to learn to fight it and stand strong,"

  "I know Jassi I'm maybe just being paranoid, but..I don't know. Sorry for being whiny," I sighed.

Jassi cupped my cheeks with his palms.

  "Don't apologise to me, or to anyone, for being yourself. For being vocal about yourself. C'mon love, it's okay to be worried about things. But it's always gonna be fine, I'll be there for you," he gave me an empathetic smile and a light kiss on my forehead.

  This was the thing I always loved about Jassi. I could always open up to him about my feelings, with a trust that he would never be judgemental. This is something which matters the most to me in a relationship. You need to be able to hear each other out, supporting them when needed, when the world will mock or remain indifferent.

"Hey, now cheer up! I have something to show you, and please, not with this sullen face,"

"Okay, okay. What do you wanna show me?"

  He grinned and pulled me towards the exit of the park.

  . .

"Jassi, I can't see!"
 
"Isn't this what a blindfold is supposed to do?" I imagined him rolling his eyes.

  "But when will you open it? I know for a fact that we are at your apartment, Jassi. What's the use of this blindfold?"

  "Geez! You talk so much!"

"Oops..realising it just now? So, are you planning on getting rid of me then, JJSB?"

  "Never," he kissed me cheeks and opened my blindfold.

  It was his apartment, yes. But the whole living room was decorated with scented candles, the light was dimmed, and DARK was playing on the TV screen. That means this wasn't just a usual romantic surprise. When he plays DARK on the TV, it means he wants to tell me something or announce something. He says watching DARK together was an important start of our journey, and it was an "our kind of thingie".

  A cake sat on the table, with loads of food, and a monopoly board. Master Shifu ran about here and there merrily. Master Shifu was Jassi's bengal cat that I gifted him on his birthday, and we three have been a lovely team ever since. Sometimes I'm kind of jealous of Master Shifu to be honest. I highly doubt Jassi loves him more than me!