“Are you going to do something?” asked Deanne as she handed Aryan the coffee. “About what” he asked.  She made an impatient noise as she sat on the couch, feet curled up under her. 

“Well” she asked.

“I am not sure.  I do not want to ruin anything” he said in a small voice. “Anyway, what difference does it make? Nobody will know” he said with a sudden defiance.

Even the blind can see you are besotted” She snorted as she stared at him.  He flushed under her penetrating gaze. 

She felt sorry at his discomfiture and went and sat next to him and took his hands in hers. “Its high time you express your feelings, and believe me, you will have no cause for regret”.  He did not respond.  She continued, “If it’s any consolation to you, the feelings are mutual”.  He jerked his head up.  She had a naughty glint in her eyes.

“How do you know” He asked grabbing her hands.  She grinned mischievously.

“Tomorrow is your birthday.  Let’s make it a day to remember” She asked with a smile. He nodded.  Words failed him, so he just hugged her again, picked up his jacket and walked out of the door.  There was a spring in his legs. 

He reached home, undressed and stepped under the shower.  After a quick dinner, he lay on his bed a smile on his face, thoughts of his beloved swirling in his head.  He did not know when sleep crept into his eyes.

As the night grew darker, unease and anxiety settled over him.  He twisted and turned in his bed.  The cool gentle breeze wafting into the room failed to calm him as he thrashed on the bed, face contorted in pain.  He curled into a feotal position, shivering, beads of sweat forming on his forehead and silent sobs racking his body. As he tried to fight of the demons threatening to engulf him, the distinct fragrance filled his senses and he felt warm, gentle hands wrap around him, stroking his hair, his face, followed by whispered words of comfort in the soothing voice he was so familiar with. 

He relaxed and looked up into tear filled eyes.  She smiled as she gently placed his head on her lap, secured the blankets around him and sat next to him, stroking his forehead, humming the tune they was so fond of.  Wrapping his arms around her waist, burying his face in her lap, he drifted off.

The shrill ringing of the phone in a faraway land shattered the silence. 
 

He woke up with a start.  Sitting up on the bed, he looked around.  The dream was so vivid that he was sure she was in the room, with him.  He could still feel her lingering fragrance.  His eyes fell on the bedside clock as he picked up the phone.  The hands pointed to 15 minutes past midnight. Smiling to himself, he answered.  It was Deanne. “Meet me at her apartment”, she said and disconnected the line.

As the disconnected tone filled his ear, a sense of foreboding set in.  He quickly changed and drove to the place.  The door was open.  It looked as if a tornado had struck.  Tables were overturned, curtains ripped apart, strands of roses and orchids, his favourite flowers scattered on the floor. The trail of destruction led into the bedroom. As he walked towards the bedroom, he was filled with dread.  His eyes took in the fragile, pretty girl in the center of the four poster bed, apparently fast asleep.  As he stood there, eyes fastened on the prone fiqure, he heard muffled sobs.  He looked around for the source of sound and found Deanne sitting on the floor, tears streaming down her face.  The look in her eyes confirmed his worst fears.

He walked forward and sat on the bed. Noticing a card sticking out from under the pillow, he pulled it out.   A collage of his and her images stared at him.  He opened the card.  Written in the endearingly familiar hand was the words, “Dear Aryan, I need you today, tomorrow and everyday… Forever Yours, Anu.”  Lifting her, he gently placed her head on his lap.  He caressed her face, her hands, humming their favourite tune.  His hands rubbed against the watch on her wrist.  He lifted the slim lifeless wrist and stared at the watch.  It was cracked, the hands stood still at 12.