Dear diary,

The apartment, once filled with our laughter and the hum of shared secrets, now echoes with emptiness. The spaces between the furniture seem wider, as if trying to accommodate the void left by his absence. It's the silence that feels almost deafening, as if the universe itself is holding its breath. The morning coffee, the shared glances, the subtle touches— are now lost. Conversations, once a river of words and laughter, have dried up. I'm reminded of one such conversations.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm palette across the sky, Avni and Neil found themselves on the terrace, captivated by the breathtaking view before them.

Neil: It's amazing how the sky transforms, isn't it?

Avni: Absolutely.

Neil: It's like a reminder that even endings can be beautiful.

Avni: Moments like these, shared with you, make everything feel perfect.

Neil: It's the company that makes it perfect. (pauses) You know, I was thinking about our journey—the highs, the lows, and everything in between.

Avni : (looking at him) Our own kind of sunset/sunrise , right?

Neil: Exactly. And just like the sun sets only to rise again, our journey too had highs and lows.

Avni: You sure are good with words. Such a hopeless romantic.

Neil: Else how can I survive in writing field! So Avni, what is romance to you?

Avni: Romance according to me is more than candlelit dinners .Romance for me is emptying washing machine. Me cooking and you cleaning the dishes. Romance is asking 'do you need anything' when you are out. Romance is yesterday we ate my choice of food and today is yours. Romance is pulling into your warmth after an exhausting day reminding me to put my phone down, take a deep breath and unwind.

Romance for me also is 'hey I have something to share. I know you are busy right now. Let's do it today night.' Romance is baby steps in everyday life towards each other rather than grand gestures on birthdays and anniversaries.

Neil: I hope I meet your expectations. (Side hugging)

Avni: The romance we share is should be not about completing each other but about complementing. It should have strong foundation where masks are unnecessary and acceptance and appreciation are valued more.

Neil: I admire you even more than ever. You're my strength Avni.

Avni: I have learnt it hard watching my birth mother and Neela ma. So believe me Neil I have a long way around.

Neil: I know(kissing her forehead)

I miss those days where we can talk about anything and everything for hours. Where did we go wrong? Why did we give up on each other? We had tried hard to establish what we had.