Their Lost Gem

Chapter 17

Author's POV:-

The bright September afternoon turned into a dusky one as the once postcard-perfect sky got concealed by the gravel-grey clouds - shutting out the big ball of fire.

The atmosphere grew dark and dull as time passed, the sky turning into a vast, tar-black space. People were rushing to their homes, to find comfort within their loved ones - with a warm cup of tea and cracking silly jokes to lighten their moods, the loud honking sounds as proof for their dash. It was around 3 as the first splatter of downpour started.

The whispery wind became confident as it pulled the trees in a vortex of dance. The clouds gave birth to a thousand water-globes, which were falling on the soil with a pit-a-pat sound - the sound comforting the two souls which snuggled into each other the back seat of the SUV. The beautiful silence engulfed them as warm blankets, comforting their beating hearts - the only thing that was to be heard (along with their slow breaths).

"You don't have to do this you know?", the honey-laced voice spoke, as she slowly caressed the black tattoo on his chest - right above the heart.

"I will do anything for you, Jaan!", he replied.

"But Vijay... This", she pointed "Tattooing your skin with my name? Why would you do that? I know you love me... still..... I feel a bit guilty you know?"

"Why are you feeling guilty My Jaan?", he asked, while slowly shuffling in his seat - cupping her cheeks which felt like cotton candy against his calloused hands.

"Because... It must have hurt you. Tattooing...hurts, right?", she asked, staring back at him with her large doe eyes which clutched a thousand emotions.

"As I said, anything for you wouldn't ever hurt me. Cause I am doing this for you. Okay?", he asked, kissing the tip of her nose which seemed to redden due to the cold.

"Okay..", she whispered, unconsciously closing her eyes.

"But...."

"But what, Jaan?"

"What if... We don't end up together in the future. At that time, won't you regret having my name as your tattoo? What if I die... Or what if-"

"Shh.... You are stressing your small brain too much. Even if we don't end up together, your name on my chest will remind me of our beautiful memories we had together. I don't know about the future, but now - I will cherish 'Us', our relationship, our lives and everything.", he replied, stroking her apple cheeks with the pad of his thumb.

"I love you...", she muttered, the three words making his heart do weird things which he thought he was incapable of.

"I love you too!", he replied, pecking her lips in the gentlest way possible, as if it were a prized glass piece in the museum.

"Thank you..", she murmured, the voice almost blending with the pitter-patter of the rain and the rushing city. Vijay swallowed as he nodded, again pulling her into his warm embrace, slowly stroking her silky raven hair.

Silence again filled the vehicle as the incessant throb of their palpitating hearts resounded against the walls - pulling their souls more close, making them fall deeper in love. The atmosphere wrapped around them was comfortable, as she laid her head on his chest - closely listening to his raging heartbeat.

"Tachycardia..", she whispered, tracing her fingers along the curves of the black ink, smiling at the smoothness of the strokes.

"What?"