Amor Fati - Our Love, Our Fates [COMPLETE]

Part 52 - Without Scruples

Mystic Clouds, Binsar, Early Morning

Nikhil shook his head to let the water droplets fly all around, as he wiped the water off his body. The early morning shower felt good, though he had to hurry. He was still not strong enough to spend a longer time standing inside, as his legs still shook from the effort.

He put the towel down on the back of the chair when he heard a knock on the door. The door was not latched anyway, given his predicament; he was expecting Sukhu with a cup of tea when he opened to door wide, surprised to see Mrs Sharma standing outside his room. Behind her stood Rohini, a frown etched on her face. A face which hadn't witnessed laughter for long. 

He wished he could just touch her for a moment and make it all better once again. 

A shockwave ran through Nikhil as he quickly retired back to the room, and pulled on his shirt. He promptly returned and invited both the women in.

"I requested her to wait for you downstairs in the hall, but she followed me upstairs" Mrs Sharma seemed a bit wary as they entered the room.

"No worries Aunty. This is fine" Nikhil assured the old lady, who left immediately. Nikhil closed the door behind her, and stood there or a while, buttoning up his shirt, his mind racing as he processed everything that was happening right then.

Rohini walked over to the rocky terrace, breathing in the fresh mountain air, her eyes burning with unshed tears. She had seen enough in those few seconds - the shoulder blades sticking out prominently, the rib cages too prominent, the slight droop, the pinched face with the scar, the feverish eyes ... she wished she could touch him and make it all better once again.

But then, she couldn't be weak at this moment. She was here only because her Father had willed her so.

Another slight knock on the door, Rohini turned around to find a man enter with a tea tray. he placed it on the coffee table, and then left, closing the door behind him. She noticed that Nikhil was still standing by the door, looking at her, his face inscrutable.

They looked at each other across the room; Rohini tried to think of all the reasons to hate him. Instead what she felt was love, bubbling up from within, hobbling over the broken parts that she had hidden deep within herself, threatening to explode in turn.

And she despised herself for her feelings. Rohini looked away.

The magic of the moment was lost as Nikhil sighed deeply, tearing his eyes away from her lonely and broken stance, cursing himself. He knew fully well that he was responsible for the same.

He suddenly remembered that he had left his phone behind in the washroom; Roshan was scheduled to send the e-ticket. He walked back inside and dissolved in fits of violent coughing as he grabbed the sides of the sink, in an effort to steady himself. He heard a slight footstep outside the washroom and knew that Rohini was there. Waving his hand at her blindly, he urged her to go away, as he turned on the faucet. He did not want her to see him this way. he would rather die than see the pity in her eyes.

A while later, he was able to relax as his coughing lessened; he splashed some water on his face and neck and tried to relax. He tried to think of his morning medicine, but nothing came to his mind, except for the fact that Rohini was there in his room, waiting for him. Nikhil returned to find Rohini preparing tea, her body all tensed up and nervous. He could still read her like a book, even though emotionally they were miles apart, lost forever in their own orbits of fate.

The thought made him sad as he trudged inside.

Rohini indicated towards the cup of tea that was kept on the table.