Amour à Paris- a rekindled Romance

Chapter 13

Shirin was already in love with the night view of the Eiffel. They found a spot by the Sein River, next to a big tree. Shirin had the bottle of Marsanay in her hand and she drank almost half of it. The cold breeze made her feel at ease, and even though it felt cold, she also felt warm. Warm? She realized Zain put his blazer on her shoulder. She smiled before suddenly asking,

:- Do you remember how erratic my schedule used to be when I was an intern?

:- hmm.

:- Back then, I never thought I'd become a financial journalist. I used to run after every incident that I came to know about. I wanted to impress my Boss and I wanted to be a good journalist. It was difficult. And then one day I got a lead on an organ smuggling case.

Zain was listening, he didn't know anything about this.

Shirin continued, "Following the lead when we reached the hospital it was late. I don't know how but somebody tipped them off already. I still remember running through the hospital corridors and stairs in the dark, stumbling, fearing for my Life. Finally, I found myself in the Morgue. You can say I was right at the heart of the operation. I don't know how I survived the night. On one hand, I could have been assaulted, molested or even murdered and on the other hand, I was in the Morgue. You know how Hospital and morgue trigger memories for me and that night I descended into hell. I was there for almost 3 hours, but it felt never-ending. Something inside me changed. I was having nightmares of being chased by those goons. Sometimes I used to end up nauseated, as if I could smell that strange smell of Morgue around me. I wasn't physically harmed but I wasn't okay."

Zain didn't know what to say. Shirin took a few sips of the wine before continuing.

"I wanted to talk to you, but you were struggling with your Photography. You thought I was busy with my work and ignored you. I started having panic attacks at that time and the guy I met today, Rehaan, one day saw me and took me to a therapist. The therapist asked me to let go of that memory, and I didn't know how. I did not want to burden you but in trying to do so I drifted away. Back then, I thought it was the best thing for you. I just didn't realize how much pain you might have felt. I probably still don't know. I am so sorry for hurting you. And I understand your bitterness towards me. I deserve it."

"Do you still have those nightmares?" Zain asked finally.

"Not much. It took me a few years, but I don't get them often now. The panic attack you saw was... is also under control. It just suddenly... I hated the fact that you despised me so much that you couldn't even take a cruise with me. That was probably why I got triggered."

"Why are you so bothered if I despised you or not? Was it wrong for me to hate you? You kept me on the blind and now I am feeling like shit. I did not know so many things happened with you, while you were still with me and...my God Shirin. Wasn't I worthy? What we shared, was it nothing that you couldn't share these with me? For the longest time I thought you were so tired of me that you forced me to walk out of our relationship. It was a shit move, Shirin. Really shitty... " Zain stood up; he was at a loss for words. Following his actions, Shirin stood up too. She extended the bottle of wine to Zain, "It's all on me. It was stupid of me. I know this apology isn't enough but Zain, could you please not hate me?"

The breeze flowing ontheir faces, the sparkling lights of the Eiffel Tower in front of them, on the other side of the river, the magic of midnight, together they cast a charm on the wounded hearts. Their eyes locked with anticipation, and suddenly Zain's phone started ringing...

The phone screen was displaying "Nina". Shirin was close enough to see that. Suddenly she grabbed the phone from Zain's hand, "Can you please not answer the phone tonight?"

"Sorry, what?"

"Tonight, could you please NOT ANSWER THE PHONE?"

"Okay." Zain took the phone from her and declined the call.

Shirin was looking at her feet again. Zain knew this expression. He took a step forward to ease the distance between them. He held her face up in both his palms, "Look at me, I am here."

A tear rolled down her cheek. She felt lighter for the first time in many years.

"Let's go back then. You drank enough tonight. I don't have any meetings tomorrow, but I'm sure you have some sightseeing plans" Zain took another step forward.

"I don't want to..." Shirin didn't move. She kept holding Zain's hand and pulled him back towards her.

"Rini, you are drunk. Let me take you b...."

Before he could finish the sentence Shirin pulled him even closer and stopped him with a kiss. Zain was taken by surprise, but he regained his control fast and reciprocated with the same intensity. Shirin was pushed to the trunk of the tree, and it seemed they both wanted to get everything they had missed in the last few years. The grudges between two hearts were melting away. They were gasping for air, but not letting go of each other. Zain's lips moved from her lips to her neck and then suddenly he stopped.

"I need to tell you something" Zain wanted to come clean about Nina.

"Shhh... not now"

"Rini it's..."

"Zain, take me to your place"

"Are you sure..."

"I want to..."

Some nights are like poetry, and this was one such. When two people long for each other, they pour all their anger, sadness and desperation into their act of love, they create magic. Shirin and Zain, used to be each other's home, and their hearts were suddenly on a familar path to finding each other again.