.....

She had tricked him. She had made him leave his old self behind and come into her world, and then before he was really at home in it but too late to go back, she had left him stranded there--like an astronaut wandering about on the moon. Alone......

He skipped a few lines in the middle as he had little control over his muffled cries that were far too audible to her ears .... As they were wrapped in a quilt cozily around him.... On both sides of the sleeping bag.... Jiya fast asleep.... his chest moistened as he could feel it.... As naina laid there... ... But never once did he dare to look down at her face......

Kept on reading further.......

"read it again..." she whispered..... "you skipped the last line.."

"i didn't.." he tried to argue....
But she glared... And sighed in defeat.....

He did read again.... But this time... There was a sobbing heard along with his words... More profound...... It was her favourites..... "a bridge to terabithia..." that he was reading to her....

She had mentioned.... How she always wished to lie in his arms..... Rubbing his skin... And admiring its complexion..... Like that of honey.... And inhaling his smell.... While he would leisurely read to her..... In a low soothing voice....... And
Her wish was his command...

They didn't realize.... How long it was.... How closer the dawn was.... As the warmth.... Of their bodies..... And the soothing night sky...... And the flame of the firewood.... Lit around.... Their tent..... Rustling of leaves..... Were all too distracting to care about how long should they stay.......and the drops of warm tears occasionally soaking his chest wet...... And her fingers.... Tracing marks on his shoulders...... From that singlet......

He had felt like heaven...... Content..... And quiet.... And he knew... As he read those lines to her.... That... She did what lesile did to jess..... Tricked him.. In her own terabithia... Where everything was so beautiful.... And quiet... And happy... And... Now she would leave.... When its hard for him to.... Be alone....

He had been at the end of his mind..... Figuring a way to save her..... Praying loud... Sobbing... Even wailing.. Wishing.. That life gives him one chance....

But it was late.... Too late......

She knew that beforehand..... She had just joked to cheer him up
"perhaps this is what we call an overkill...." and he had broken like a sand castle breaks.. And withers as the waves hit it...... Infront of her....

And for the first time his tears reached her eyes... His pain.... Softened her heart.....
She wanted to comfort him.... For the first time... She was willing to forgive him... Almost wishing that god heals her miraculously.... So that she could start a new life with him... All over again.....

But all she could do was.... Touch is cheek..... With her shivering hands...... Wiping off the droplets.. That endlessly found their way out...

"wo rajkumari ne rajkumar ko tab hi maaf kar diya tha..... Jab usne use apni yaad me tadapte hue pagalo ki tarha use dhundte hue dekha....."
He looked at her...

"mai jaanti thi..... Tum mujhe dhundte hue apni postings change karte the....... Infact..... It was a task for me to move away from places.... While you kept looking for me.... I am sorry...." she said softly..

"i knew... You were longing to meet me.... And to see jiya...... I could see that in your eyes... As i often spotted you..... But... It was me.... I had no courage to face you....i was scared....." she said.....

"i wish... You had summed up some courage.... Ek baar... Mujhse mil leti...." he complained... Still weeping.... Wondering.... That had he found her earlier would things be different then they are now.... He would have saved her... It wouldn't have been so late...

And she staring at him wistfully replied

"i wish i had did that too....."... "but.. I don't regret now..... I get to be here with you.... Whatever little time is left..... Its the only thing i had wanted....to be with you.... To have you look at me the way you do now....."
He looked at her with such passion..... That would make her shiver...like she was the only one who existed..... Like his love for her was as boundless as the night sky they were covered with..... There was a moment..... When her lips parted.... And her breath hitched.... But jiya woke up whimpering and he took her in the lap..... Patting her back... Tucking her back to sleep... And they had to part......

But this was only one amongst the list of things.. She wished to do...... Before she left..... Crazy times lie ahead... She had warned him beforehand ..... While handling more of a bucket list...... She had scribbled.......in her leisure hours.. In the hospital.....
"this is pure craziness.." he exclaimed... As he read one of her wish.... To lie... On a frozen river .. And gaze at the stars..... While their backs ache as the chilly currants of ice pass through them...

"no...it will be romantic.." she groaned..

"and suicidal" he groaned back...

"comeon... You are a strong.. And fit soldier..you ll be fine... And me... I am dying anyway...... Would prefer doing it there than here"
He had gone silent...
She narrowed her eyes..sheepishly..

"sorry sorry.... No jokes on the dying part" she says..."but..it ll be fine..... I guarentee you..." she says.... Pouting and groveling...

"fine.. We ll think about it .." he pouts back.....
"yayyyyy" her eyes all excited..... And gleaming.... At a victory....