Framing Shards

1. Winters

Steam rose from the coffee mug marked with the Stark Enterprise logo engulfing him with an aroma quite in contrast to the pungent odor of grease and oil he was submerged in moments ago. The afternoon sun beamed down on him as he strolled lazily in the long balcony of his luxurious house sipping the brewed beverage every now and then, as some strong winds whizzed past.

His stance seemed relaxed beguiling any onlooker from the gears running in his mind generating numerous solutions for the shortcomings in his latest experiment. A frustrated sigh escaped his lips as he chided himself for letting his mind return to his lab during the break.

"J.A.R.V.I.S, hit the playlist buddy" he commanded, sinking into the only chair in the balcony, fighting the fond smile tugging at his lips as the living room boomed with rock music.

His eyes shut delighting in the music, leaning forward to touch his forehead with his fisted hand, ignoring the slight throb at the back of his head, letting himself relax gradually, first his tense posture then his overworked mind.

Few moments of tranquility passed before his eyes snapped open again and an excited smile donned his lips. Springing out of his seat, he jogged towards his lab cross checking the new ideas his adept mind had generated. His excited fingers punched away at the keyboard and he all but ran inside.

"J.A.R.V.I.S.! display the model", he instructed his closest confidante.

"Mr. Stark, sir, What is it that you are trying to change in this model?" came the question from the highly intelligent system.

Anthony Edward Stark pursed his lips running over the idea once more before sharing it, "Let's see. I am trying to generate closed time like curves using this machine." He paused for a moment as his eyes swept the half built machine before him and a skeptical look formed in them, "We have been focusing on quantum physics alone. What if we try reducing it to retrocausal classical dynamics?"

"That sounds promising sir. Here is the new model with the modified equations and parameters." replies J.A.R.V.I.S tweaking the model accordingly. Tony's eyes were fixed on the hologram and edited designs where he saw apt or found things lacking. Various screens brimming with complex equations zoomed in front of the billionaire but his finger flowed gracefully on those as if he was playing some familiar piece on piano.

"Perfect." He muttered and looked for any other possible flaw. When assured there were none he asked the A.I. for a dry run. His commands were followed and he waited for the results. Fiddling at his place he chewed the end of the pencil in his hands while he waited for the result.

"Simulation successful" J.A.R.V.I.S announced after a while.

"Shit." - Tony mumbled under his breathe.

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The evening star distinct all through night now stood on the eastern sky, its prior conspicuous presence now beginning to be blurred amidst the dawn sky slowly undraping its dark flue night garbs and donning the morning saffrons and reds.

But the nurturing and protective gaze of the beautiful star still lingered on, from the tall ornate window, on the beautiful face of the only sleeping occupant of the large luxurious chamber. Her long smooth black locks of hair spread all over the plush pillows.

A draft of cold air stole into the room making the curtains on the north facing windows and doors sway. The figure on the majestic four poster bed stirred a bit before turning sideways, causing the duvet to wound around her, uncovering her back exposing it to the capricious cool breezes.

Some incoherent mutterings followed from the now half asleep lady as she curled herself more in an involuntary response to the chill in the air. A smile lit up her face as she let her hand trail its way to her right side of the bed, clumsily stealing through the tangled mess of silken sheets.

Her slender fingers sought for a familiar warm hand to encase them in, her prior smile giving way to a gradual frown as her hand increasingly failed in its search, her sleep hazed eyes still shut while her arm fidgeted across the bed more.

Another cold rush of wind moved the curtain and sent a shiver through her again and this time the sound of metal sliding against each other registered in her ear.

"I would be leaving today." A deep masculine voice echoed in the chamber. The beauty lying on the bed fluttered her eyes open with a lazy yawn escaping her lips.

"Arya" she mumbled, slowly sitting up and stretching her body "Aryamik, so early? You must be going out on a ride right?"

In the melodic voice she possessed it was hard not to miss the slight quaver as her gentle doe eyes widened now knowing the whim she wanted to hold on to could not be true as her husband stood inspecting a sword, giving it occasional swing.

"I will try to come back soon." He said passively and secured the sword in its sheath. He glanced at the woman on bed and cast a small smile at her and started heading out of the chamber.

"Aryamik" the woman called out for her husband, trying to hold him or anyhow make him stop. It was the fourth time this year that he has set out for another expedition leaving her. Sometimes she felt like a locked bird, incarcerated in a golden gilded cage.

The train of thoughts that devoured her now was cut short, this time the handsome face she had called out to stay a few seconds back now stood before her again having rushed in from the doorway.

"Aryamik" she said, her doe eyes widening as her husband leaned closer to her, "Can you not delay a while, I do no--"

"Duty comes first dear" her husband interrupted before she could complete, pressing his calloused fingers against her cheeks, "Take care Niri. Patience is the greatest virtue of a Ksatriya woman which translates into the strength of her man."

He quickly pressed a soft kiss on her forehead and with a final glance strode out not looking back lest his resolve be shaken. What he did not see was the sad forlorn lady he left behind with the forced smile on her beautiful face before it too disappeared under a long sigh.

She lacked nothing, all sorts of luxuries were provided to her but instead of these trinkets what her heart desired was something else. Her heart desired for a company, a secret holder, a person whom she could cuddle and together they would pass even the coldest of winters sharing warmth in each other's embrace.

She shivered again and realized she had nearly uncovered the warm protective layers from herself. Hastily throwing a shawl over her shoulder she slid down from the bed, the cool floor tingling against her bare feet as they quickly pattered to the balcony.

The scenic dawn sky reflected back in her eyes as she watched at the fleeting cavalry of her husband departing from the palace gates raising a screen of dust behind them. What left was an unnerving silence that clawed her and the fiddling flames of diyas (earther lamps). The evening star still shone above her head but that too was diminishing as the sun rose from the horizon unfolding the start of yet another day.