~PLACID~

CHAPTER 8

If nature could speak
And we could hear
Life would have been simple

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At the other end the direction of wind was changing. There was a sense of pleasant refinement in the surroundings. As the spring replenished the greenery and floral landscapes, the elusory life of Asad had started shifting it's epicenter. A teacher by profession, he only understood technicalities. His monotonous life was monochromatic with his students, job and family. Never had Cupid struck him and filled his life with colours. But when it did, he was caught so off guard that he was equally unaware of the developments as she was.

"Love at first sight" was a bug that the geeky fellow rejected for long till he saw her.

Their first meet left a deep imprint of her beauty in his soul.

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Arfia and Kashi reached home with their new guest. Duha spotted a man dusting his scooter. Out of reflex she veiled her head with her dupatta. The bangles in her hand made a clinking sound stirring him out of his work.

He turned around only to be greeted by a beautiful sight. A fair complexioned girl cladded in a multicoloured heavy outfit stood behind Arfia. The mole on her upper lip instantly drew his attention towards her. His grey eyes worked like an X-ray piercing her soul. Realizing his intent gaze on her she lowered her eyes.

"Asad", Arfia's voice shook him from his trance.

"She is our new guest", she informed the already lost soul.

He didn't know who she was. Even the introduction felt incomplete without her name. Guest or not was still the question which lingered on his mind. But he felt and accepted the unseen. He was possessed by her charm in the first meet itself. His heart leapt with joy and danced in a rhythm which he never had experienced.

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From the first day itself, her silence and those deep brown eyes spoke thousand words to him. He was unaffected by the most important truth of her life: her child. His motive was unshakeable even by the threat of the religious differences to their unspoken, unnamed, unknown bond. He never approached her as he didn't want to lose a companion and friend that he found in her.

He played with his table lamp thinking about her. His mind resounded her name even when he was busy memorizing his notes.

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"I hope you are okay with this arrangement.", Asad said after he was done cleaning the room on the first floor.

"Bhabhi had asked me to take care of it. The room might seem too clumsy and small but I hope you make yourself comfortable. If you need anything please let us know.", he continued.

As he got no reply from her, he tried changing the topic.

"Atleast tell me your name", he almost pleaded.

Duha picked up a piece of paper and signalled him for a pen. Asad handed her a pen and looked at her in confusion.

Duha began scribbling something on the paper. Once done, she handed it to Asad.

"I am grateful for your assistance. The room is great and I'll be comfortable. Thank you. I wished I could tell you this but unfortunately I am not as blessed as others."

Duha.

Asad read it and apologized to her for his lack of knowledge. Her deep brown eyes twinkled in gratitude and contentment.

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In between the pages of his book, there was her note which he caressed with his fingers.

Unknowingly his pen began working on the paper. His hands instantly drew her deep expressive eyes and perfectly angled eyebrows.

He slid the sheet of paper in his drawer as he heard someone's footsteps outside his room.

A knock on the door and he opened it within seconds to find those same eyes before him.

"Is everything good?", He asked her to which she nodded affirmatively.

Relieved to hear the same, he questioned as to what she wanted.

She walked inside towards his table. Asad became nervous as her note was pretty visible from his book. He cursed himself for not hiding it properly.

Before she could open the book, he reached there almost falling on her.

She pushed him with all her might.

"Duha... I was", he managed to speak but failed as she gave him a tight slap on his cheek.

Before he could justify his action she rushed to her room crying.

Helplessly he fell back on his rocking chair. Closing his eyes, he rocked the chair back and forth.

She stared at her image in the tainted mirror and wiped off the dust as her eyes brimmed with tears.

Her encounters with Asad took her to a time which could never return.

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Her tiny feet paced the length of the passage as he followed her. Childhood was bliss. He had known her since she was a month old. She found a companion in him who played with her, laughed with her and cried with her.

She had to win the dare so she ran in front of him. He purposely followed her slowly. Panting heavily she reached the garden and tripped over the stone. She fell down with her hands on the ground. Blood oozed out of her knee.

He lifted her up and wiped off her tears.

His touch always had been magical. It was a balm for her every wound. With time she had become the rhythm of his heartbeat and he, the words of her silence.
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She jolted off from her reverie with the knock on the door.
She opened the door to be greeted by Arfia.

"I guess you were looking for this", she said waving a diary and pen in her hand.

Duha stood in a shock.

"Asad had asked me to give it to you", Arfia informed.

Someone indeed wanted to give words to her silence.

Even when her words were new, the feelings were old.
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Eyes meet once
Souls connect once
Intrigue develops once
But love is a journey
Far away from "once"