Finding Love

Chapter 2

The soft glow of the fireplace reflected onto the walls around, plunged into darkness, much like her own life.
Her dreams were crushed, and her happiness had been traded for. This was a big chance she was taking. She didn't want to end up being another Jannat.
The very thought, of that fateful day, sent shivers down her spine. Closing her eyes shut tight, she tried to stop the tears that threatened to fall out. She stared hard into the sparks of the fire, that disappeared into the air.
Not just the ember, but her heart too, was burnt down to ashes. A hand on her shoulder, shook her out of her trail of thoughts. Looking up, she met her father's quaint form, the flicker of a smile creeping its way onto his tired face. Letting out a shaky breath, he sat down beside his daughter, holding her small hand in his large warm one, in a desperate attempt to calm his worrying heart. He didn't want to make the same mistake again. This time, the guilt would strangle him alive.

"Asif is a nice man," he said, after a long pause. He intended to direct that statement to his daughter, but ended up doing so to himself, trying to reassure his tormented mind.

Met with silence as an answer, he turned to find her distraught face streaked with tears, as she continued to stare at the burning embers. Worry clouded his already disturbed mind. He needed to think. Just, think. And breathe. Maybe, just maybe, this was wrong. He needed his time. He stood up and left the room, quick in his stride, making his way towards the study.

***************

"She is stable... but, the impact of the accident....,"the doctor just stared at him, uneasily, before he resumed his statement. "The impact of the accident has affected the movement of her lower body, paralysing it....temporary, hopefully..... She may not be able to walk for very long now....And definitely, dancing is out of question. I'm... really sorry...."

He just stood there, rooted to be ground, as he took in what the doctor said.
Noorie would never dance again. She would never take another step, another swirl.
It was all too much to fathom, and he stumbled backwards, as the gravity of the situation hit him, and he slumped into the chair.
It wasn't shock. It was an inexplicable emotion. A conundrum of pity, sorrow, guilt, and... pain! He didn't have the courage to face her when she would wake up. How would he manage to tell her that she no longer possessed her talent? She was not a ballerina anymore! What was she? Disabled?

The worry lines on his face reflected, every thought that raced through his mind. The ballerina would now wear her shoes, but never dance. It's the dance that describes the dancer. Well, what would describe Noorie? His Noorie! Crutches temporarily. But next? He wouldn't be able to see her crumble down to ashes, and die a million deaths every moment that she lived!
A silent tear trickled down his cheek. It was long since he had felt this way, and, this left him shocked too. Bewildered, he stood up, rushing through the corridor, towards the garden. He needed to breathe. This could not happen. He knew it would destroy him. And he didn't want to take the risk this time. He'd be broken worse, if he did.
Vehemence creeping into his mind, he dashed off towards his car, and drove out at top speed, trying desperately, to escape the demons. He needed to breathe.

Just, breathe. Preoccupied, he shifted the gears roughly, as he took a swift right turn, leading onto the highway. Focused on the road ahead, he drove, fast enough for any rational being to fear for his life, but he was not the reckless kind.
He was not insane enough to put his life at stake. At least not when the people around him needed him the most. He knew where his limits ended and he didn't remember crossing them ever.

Driving for an hour, he arrived there. Slamming the door shut, he ran in, through the open gates, slowing down involuntarily, as he approached her.
He stared down, for one solemn moment, before falling to his knees, and breaking down next to the cold, lifeless, stone block, helpless and undone.
He knew not, the right from the wrong, at that moment. All he knew of, was that she was always there for him. She always heard him out. She was always there to console him. She always understood him, no matter what. And she loved him, like nobody else had. Crying his soul out, he still felt the warmth of her hands, wrapped tightly around him, whenever he needed refuge from the world.

He remembered the faint smile on her lips, and those sparkling eyes that held so much love for him. Her soft laughter still haunted his thoughts, when in solitude. And he missed her so much. He yearned for that touch. He yearned for those soothing words, and those soft lullabies.
He craved to see her smiling face, as she waited for him at the front porch, even before he pulled up into the lane, as he reached home after work.

Sure he had once loved silence. But he did realise, that it need not always be peaceful. Sometimes, silences were tormenting. Deafening. Painful even. And another silent tear slipped down, streaking his face with sorrow, all over again...

*A/N: Noorie? ;)