Heal my heart ~ Royal Tale

8 ~ HIS HANDKERCHIEF

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✤Abhimanyu Singh Ranawat✤
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I excused myself from the function and stepped out into the garden area to attend an important call from a foreign client.

After a productive 10-minute call, I wrapped up the deal and hung up. As I turned my attention to my surroundings, my gaze landed on a figure sitting on a nearby bench, shrouded in contemplation. Looking lost?

As my gaze fell upon the figure, a sudden jolt of recognition coursed through me. Even from behind, without seeing her face, I instinctively knew it was Adhya.

It was as if my heart recognized her presence before my mind did, a deep-seated connection that transcended visual cues.

I approached her with deliberate slowness, my footsteps quiet and measured, careful not to startle her.

My intention was to respect her solitude, to avoid disrupting the contemplative atmosphere that surrounded her.

As I drew closer, my heart sank. Adhya's beautiful eyes, brimmed with tears, shimmering like fragile glass.

The sight pierced me, summoning a deep ache within. My chest constricted, as if an invisible hand had clenched my heart, filling me with an uneasy, painful feeling.

I instinctively offered my handkerchief, and as she turned to face me, our eyes met. Adhya's gaze, though red-rimmed and puffy, locked onto mine, conveying a depth of emotion.

Without a word, she accepted the handkerchief, her fingers brushing against mine. With gentle dignity, she dabbed away her tears, the softness of her touch a poignant contrast to the turmoil in her eyes.

"Itni sundar ankhein, aur inme ye aansu... Jachte nahi." I spoke softly.
(Such beautiful eyes, yet filled with tears... Unbearable.)

As she wiped away her tears, I continued, "Apke aansu bohot logon ke liye jaanleva ho sakte hain! Kya pata, ro aap rahi ho, aur dil kisi aur ka dukhe?"  I said feeling pain in my heart seeing her beautiful eyes covered with tears and pain visible in them.
(Your tears can be devastating for many. Who knows, you're crying, and someone else's heart might be aching.)

"Ji?" she asked, furrowing her brow.
(What?)

"Your family , they will definitely not like seeing you in tears" I answered to which Adhya sighed, her expression softening, and nodded subtly.

I breathed a silent sigh of relief. Thank God!

Adhya remained silent, her gaze drifting upward, lost in the dark sky obscured by a canvas of twinkling stars.

I sat down on the bench, leaving a respectful distance between us, and followed her gaze into the celestial expanse.

I broke the silence after a moment, asking, "Can I say something?''

Adhya nodded, her gaze still fixed on the starry sky, her eyes welling up with unshed tears. She seemed determined to hold them back, unwilling to let me see her cry.

"Ansun unke kie bahiye jo unhe ponch skein, na ki unke lie jo unka karan ho! " I said, my gaze locked on hers as she continued to gaze at the moon. Our eyes met, and I offered a gentle smile.
(Tears are for those who can reach out to them, not for those who are the reason for their tears.)

A look of understanding flickered in her eyes as she contemplated my words. The silence between us was filled with the soft glow of the moon.

After a moment, she whispered, her voice barely audible, ''I'm trying to move on... But it's not easy to forget the pain..'' The words hung in the air, a fragile admission of her struggles.