Chapter 50 - Melancholy (1/2)

||Innaya||

The dark cloud completely covered the sky, blocking any and every means of light. What started as a slow drizzle, turned into the heavy downpour within a couple of minutes, assaulting everything in its path.

Melancholy...

The one single word was enough- to describe the weather as well as a state of my mind and heart.

I was drenched from head to toe, yet I could not feel anything. My body had grown numb just like my mind. The rain accompanied by heavy wind continued slapping against my skin rather harshly. How I wanted the darkness to swallow me.

*

(flashback)

I closed the balcony door and pulled the curtains over it. It was raining heavily and God knew how much I hated rain. They always brought the bad memories I tried to keep locked.

That woman had me locked up in the terrace for a whole night in the heavy rain. Thankfully, there was enough shelter to cover my nine-year-old self. The whole night I had kept crying for my mother to take me away from the darkness, loud thunder noises, and cold wind.

”Sweetheart?” Eshan voice came from behind me. His endearments were growing on me. I was so used to them that I would think something was missing if he did not use them.

I wiped the tears that escaped reviving that horrible night before I turned to him. Eshan walked to me with the small smile playing on his lips. He stood beside me, slid the curtain away, and opened the door I had just closed.

”You know what is so good about rainy season?”

”What's good about it? It is all wet and muddier everywhere. Not to forget the whole new set of viruses resulting in sickness. Did I mention the gloominess and the scary thunderstorms?” I blurted my distaste for them.

Eshan's eyes lingered on my face; I resisted the urge to check my face for any sign of my emotional turmoil seconds ago. He smiled as if he found something he was searching. Circling his arm around my shoulder, he led me in the balcony.

”It depends upon experience, Tesoro.”

Turning me around so that I was facing the railings, Eshan stood behind me- very close. His hands travelled from my shoulders slowly, until he reached my palm. His fingers found their way in-between space of my own before entwining.

Breathe- slowly and steadily.

I repeated in my mind, as I tried not flinching at the sudden sound of thunder followed by lightning.

”You know, I found rain fascinating when I was sixteen.”

I wanted to turn around to ask what the meaning of that was. His hold kept me from moving. Resting his chin on my shoulder, he squeezed my palm. The warmth of his body surrounded me like a warm blanket and I couldn't help but lean more into him.

”Why?”

”Wrong question,” Eshan chuckled near my ear, ”moglie(wife).”

There, it was- his new endearment.

Sighing, I smiled.

”Now what is the meaning of that?”

”Wrong question, again,” Eshan whispered.

”How?”

”Huh?” I dumbly asked.

”Later, I will tell you later. Now, close your eyes and focus on the sound.”

”I guess we should sleep,” I turned in his arms and he let me. The wind was gaining speed and alongside the rain too. That was not helping me to let aside that night, standing here seem only to make matter worse.

Concerned, his eyes roamed on my face. His right hand came around my waist while his left palm covered my eyes.

”We will, but for now- trust me.”

For the fact, I knew he was not going to back away then what was the use. Inhaling sharply, I nodded at him giving in his demand.