It was late afternoon, and the usual liveliness of the Rao mansion felt muted. Pallavi's footsteps echoed softly as she wandered through the hall, her mind clouded with scattered thoughts. She stopped at the window, squinting at the garden outside. The sunlight seemed too bright, harsh, like it didn't belong in her world anymore.
Raghav found her standing there, still like a statue, hugging herself tightly.
"Pallavi?" Raghav spoke gently, not wanting to startle her.
Pallavi turned, her eyes wide with confusion. "Raghav, wahan ek aurat hai bahar. Pura din se wahin hai, dekh rahi hai mujhe... hai na?" Her voice trembled with fear.
Raghav stepped closer, looking out of the window. The garden was empty, save for a few flowers swaying in the breeze. His heart tightened with worry.
"Koi nahi hai, Pallavi. Hum dono hi hain yahan."
Pallavi shook her head frantically, backing away from him. "Nahi! Maine dekha hai usse. Woh sach mein hai. Tum kyun nahi dekh rahe? Main paagal nahi hoon!" Her voice cracked, and she gripped the edge of the table for support.
Raghav closed the distance between them, his face soft, though his heart felt heavy. He took her trembling hands in his.
"Tum paagal nahi hai, Pallavi," he whispered. "Yeh illness tumko confuse kar raha hai. Lekin main yahan hai. fir chahe sab galat ho ya sahi, main tumhara saath hai."
Pallavi's chest heaved, and for a moment, her eyes cleared. She squeezed his hand, her expression desperate. "Mujhe yeh nahi chahiye, Raghav. Main aisa mehsoos nahi karna chahti. Main khud ko khona nahi chahti."
Raghav pulled her into his arms, cradling her head against his chest as if he could protect her from whatever was taking her away from him. His voice was thick with emotion. "Tum khud ko nahi khoyega, Pallavi. Jab tak main yahan hai, hum isse saath mein paar karega."
They stood there, wrapped in each other, but Pallavi's mind was restless. She suddenly pulled away, her face full of frustration.
"Mujhe nahi pata main kal tak yaad rakhungi ki nahi. Agar ek din main tumhe dekh kar nahi pehchanu to? Agar main bhool jaoon ki tum kaun ho?" Her voice cracked again, fear coating every word.
Raghav's eyes glistened with unshed tears, but his tone remained steady. "To main tumhe yaad dilata rahega. Roz, jab tak zarurat padega. Main tumhe batayega ki main kaun hai, hum kaun hain, kitna pyar karta hai tumse. Baar-baar, jab tak tumko vishwaas ho."
Pallavi collapsed into a nearby chair, burying her face in her hands. "Main sab barbaad kar rahi hoon," she whispered. "Tumhe koi aisi chahiye jo tumhara saath de sake, na ki koi jo aise toot jaaye."
Raghav knelt in front of her, gently pulling her hands away from her face. "Tum kabhi kuch barbaad nahi kiya, Pallavi. Tum meri taaqat raha hai aur hamesha rahega. Yeh bimari tumko define nahi karta, aur nahi yeh mera pyar ko badalta."
Her lips trembled as she looked into his eyes. "Agar yeh aur badh gaya to?"
"It won't," Raghav said, though he wasn't sure if it was to comfort her or himself. "Aur agar badhta bhi hai, to main tab bhi yahan hai."
Pallavi smiled faintly, the warmth of his words seeping into her heart, even in her confusion. In that moment, she knew that no matter what lay ahead, Raghav would be there, holding on to her, as fiercely as ever.
Silence settled between them, heavy but filled with unspoken love. Raghav knew how hard it was for Pallavi to accept her condition. Some days were better, when she seemed like her old self—bright, witty, and full of life. But then there were days like today, where the shadows of confusion crept in, stealing her clarity and leaving her lost.
He had done his research, spoken to doctors, explored treatments—anything to help her. But no matter how much he learned, it never made the reality easier. Watching the woman he loved slowly slip away was a pain he couldn't describe, but he would never let her face it alone.
"Mujhe uss Pallavi ki yaad aati hai," Pallavi whispered, breaking the silence.
Raghav frowned. "Kiska?"
"Wahi jo sab kuch aasan samajh leti thi, jo tumhare saath hansi mazak karti thi bina ye sochhe ki kya main kal isse yaad rakhungi. Jo tumhe dekhti thi aur mehsoos karti thi ki wo yahaan hai."
Raghav's heart shattered at her words, but he held her hands tighter. "Tum wahi hai, Pallavi.Tumhara wo hissa abhi bhi hai. Tum ab bhi mera saree ka dukan hi hai jisaka non-stop bakbak ekbar shuru hoye to khatam hi nahi hota."
A tear slid down her cheek, and Raghav wiped it away gently with his thumb. "Aur main tumse pyaar karta hai. Tumhare har hissa se. Un hisson se bhi jo tumko lagta hai ki toota huva hain."
Pallavi looked at him, her eyes filled with a fragile hope, and for the first time that day, a small smile tugged at her lips. "Tum toh ziddi hi ho."
"Offcourse that's why I am The Raghav Rao," Raghav said, grinning slightly, his hand cupping her cheek.
She leaned into his touch, closing her eyes as if savoring the warmth and safety his presence brought her. "Thanks, Raghav," she whispered.
"Thanks kis baat ka?"
"Rukhne ke liye. Mujhse pyaar karne ke liye, jab main khud se pyaar nahi kar sakti."
Raghav bent down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "Yehi toh pyaar hai, Pallavi. Tumne mere liye hazaron baar kiya hai. Ab, mera time hai."
They stayed like that for a while, wrapped in the fragile peace of the moment, knowing that tomorrow might bring another battle, but tonight, they had each other. And that was enough.
Bas thak gaye hain hum,
Jaane kyun muskan aati hai chehere par jab nazar milate ho tum,
aise hi Muskurane ki wajah mile,
Toh bas zindagi ke hum mohtaaj ban jaye.
