Dawn

Chapter 25 - Renaissance

hasun main jab gaaye tu

roun main murjhaye tu

bheegun main barsaaye tu, saathiya

Renaissance

[noun]

a revival

Imlie opened her eyes to a bright new day with a smile on her face. She bounded out of bed with all the energy of a lamb, grabbing KK and cuddling him as she headed to the bathroom to get ready.

She couldn't wait to get her day started, she decided. She showered, dried her hair and spent an inordinate amount of time trying to pick out what she was going to wear.

She twisted her mouth in confusion as she attempted to figure out what would suit her best today. Her practical mind wanted to settle on a regular cotton kurti but it was a special day and she wanted to dress to impress.

She blushed, thinking about the person whom she was dressing for and sighed dreamily.

Aryan.

After days of feeling like she was living lost in a maze, she was finally finding a way out. Amma was right, she accepted. Why did she torture herself with her past when what she felt today was so much more important?

Right now, she knew that her feelings for Aryan were more real than any fear she may have had about their relationship before her amnesia. She felt it in her bones.

She brushed out her hair, applied her usual kohl and got ready to go. She turned back to the mirror almost immediately, picked up the lip gloss that Arpita Didi had gifted her and dabbed some on, smacking her lips together to spread the product evenly.

She observed her reflection. A long red churidaar, a soft sheer dupatta, pink cheeks, luscious lips and a smile that wouldn't end. She giggled, biting her lips as she tried to control the bubbling feeling of nervousness mixed with elation. She wanted to jump around her room like a maniac but instead just put her face in her hands, shaking her head, laughing at how silly she was being. It was just Aryan afterall.

Except, she blushed to herself, recalling their last encounter- he wouldn't be just Aryan to her, ever.

Today was going to change her life forever, she decided, walking out of her room. She'd promised him that they'd talk and indeed, they needed to. She was ready to tell him how she felt. She'd figured it out.

They may have been married without much choice before, but now, she wanted to be with him in every sense. She wanted to choose him, wanted him to choose her. Her hands shook a little as she pushed a strand of hair back, looking about to see if Aryan was around.

She stepped down the long staircase slowly, her gaze searching. She headed to the breakfast table, surprised when no one was there. The cleaners were moving about, removing all the decorations and packing them away, working efficiently to return the house to its previous state.

Imlie walked to the large ballroom where the event last night was hosted, the banners, lights and decorations slowly coming off. She stepped to the center of the room, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. With no one around, she could almost hear the tune of the song they'd danced to playing in deep recesses of her mind.

She had connected with Aryan in a way that transcended any experiences she may have had. She had finally understood what people meant when they said that they felt a connection between their souls.