Jasmine.

36. Love?

I am really sorry. I had been really busy. I had exams I still have two more by the end of the month. Med school through online is shit, I miss the clinical rotations so badly. That was where I learned more than through lectures. 

Aira turned on her heel and ran to her room. 'Love,' the word rang in her head. She could feel her breathing turning shallow. She didn't know what to think.

"It's not like he said the three words," Pessimist shot up. Aira groaned.

"He said love; he isn't stupid enough to casually throw that word into a conversation." Optimist shot back.

"You mean he actually loves us,"

"Can't you see that?" Optimist shook her head at pessimist. "We have created enough ruckus in his life that he could have run to the hills without turning back. Did he do that?" Optimist stared at Pessimist.

"Not exactly, but what if we get hurt? What if we hurt them? You know Bug and him?" Pessimist asked anxiously.

"Okay, what do we feel when we are with him?" Optimist prodded.

"Safe, serene, balanced, maybe even complete."

"Here you have the answer that we need," Optimist smiled heartily.

"Do we love him?" Pessimist asked her voice full of doubts. "That's for us to find,"

Henry noticed Aira gone, "I will be back," Malini nodded before she went back to play with Cora. He entered Aira's room, he heard the shower running. He went to the bathroom only to find Aira standing under the shower still in her sleepwear.

"Flower," He called out, Aira stood unresponsive. He stepped inside the shower and turned it off. "Aira, flower?" He saw her looking into the distance. "Hey," He shook her. Aira blinked.

"What happened?" She coughed and sneezed. "You were standing under a hot shower in your pyjamas."

"When did I come here?" She asked scared. "Shhh... it's okay," Henry held her firmly against his chest. "You are okay... everything is fine." He continued whispering sweet nothings into her ear as she slowly calmed down.

"Um... we need to change." She mumbled, Henry chuckled as she pouted. They both got out of the shower. Once changed Aira sat down to dry her long locks. "What happened, Darling?" He asked softly as he helped Aira dry her hair. "I was thinking about stuff. I might have gone into a trance. Ouch!" She shouted as he accidentally pulled a lock of her hair. "Sorry!" He bit his tongue looking at her guiltily. Aira's glare softened, she smiled. "Henry..."

"Mmm," He hummed as he combed through her hair. "I am really happy that I met you and Bug. I feel so blessed." She said reaching for his hand. She placed a light peck on his palm. Henry felt tears roll down his face. He wiped the tears away.

"I want to show you something," she said getting up from her seat. "Promise me you won't be angry," She walked to the cupboard and took out the Urn.

"What's that?" He asked surprised.

"It has something," She said, her expression was raw pain. She knew it was now or never. She tried several times during last week to do something about it. Her shower speech never came out whenever she wanted to talk about. "Is this what you were trying to tell about all this week?" He asked concerned. She nodded.

"Henry, I um..." She searched through her brain for her well-prepared speech only to find it gone. She took a deep breath. "Henry, this urn contains something very important to me; this was the last of the most important person in my life. My daughter, Raksha's cord." Aira looked at Henry nervously.