Note : 5500 words, and my only thought throughout - A love Like this, should be true too!

Happy reading!

Presenting to you :

THE HORIZON'S AGONY

"Tum na hue, mere toh kya,
Mai tumhara,
Mai tumhara,
Mai tumhara raha.
Mere chanda, mai tumhara sitara raha"

"Indian Army is a family, its always about 'Us' and 'We', no body is an 'I' or 'Me' here, and I am extremely proud of all of us, for the grave danger we walk into, knowing pretty well we might not come out alive. Yet, we do it, for our mother nation, for our fellow mates here. They say the day you step one foot into the army confinement, is the day your pre written destiny ceases to exist. From there on, every day is a choice you make, every hour is a risk you take, and willingly so. We, write our own destinies!", Colonel Sharma spoke into the microphone and the crowd began clapping, appreciating every word, which knowingly or unknowingly was a living reminder they carried within themselves, every waking minute.

"And today, I am as proud of him as I am saddened to loose someone so capable from the force", Colonel Sharma paused, and the focus of the crowd shifted to that one person with whom his eyes were locked, "He was a boy when I met him, and now he is a man, Twelve years of whose life has been for the nation, and I know if this tragedy hadn't happened, coming twenty more years would have been too", he smiled softly, and the man in question smiled back, nodding to his mentor, acknowledging him.

"Major Vyom Bakshi, we salute you here today, for the extra ordinary act of courage you showed, for saving five of your subordinates by taking the bullet on yourself, and even though it was a choice you made, we, as your family, are still indebted to you for the strength you showed during the encounter, for killing away three invaders and not letting us suffer even a single casualty", Colonel saluted him, and the next moment each and every person in the room was standing in a salute for Vyom, who acknowledged all of their love, and walked to the stage to take his medal of excellence.

Vyom wasn't a man of words, but his eyes spoke volumes. There was a time when he talked too much too, but that was a part of life he had left behind when he had joined the army. Colonel Sharma pinned the medal of valor to his uniform, and Vyom saluted him, in attention, on receiving the honor, before he was asked to speak two words to the waiting crowd.

Well, that's exactly he did, spoke two words - Just two words, 'Thank you', but it was the way he smiled and blinked at them that everyone felt the gratitude he didn't try to explain. Colonel Sharma chuckled at him, aware of how Vyom liked to speak only the bare minimum, but the way Vyom's injured left hand had found it's way to his trouser's pocket, he knew pretty well what he was clutching on to - like he always did in each one of his happiest and saddest moments.

The anklet.

A tiny, beaded silver anklet, the other pair of which was with someone else, someone who also had kept with her this young, desolate man's heart, for years now.

As the party began, people began coming to Vyom one after the other, congratulating him, as well as expressing their remorse over his injury. The bullet in his left fore arm had injured one of his nerves, and it had caused him paresis in his left hand, the last two and a half fingers majorly numb, responding only to deeper sensations like pain and vibrations.

And that, had also became the reason of his unexpected but undeniable retirement from the Indian Army.

"Vyom?", Colonel Sharma called him out, and excused him from the crowd. Vyom raised his glass, sending a silent thank you for the save, making the older man chuckle yet again.

"So? Where will you go now?", Colonel Sharma asked, clearly worried about him. He knew Vyom's history, he knew Vyom hadn't returned to his home even once in the last twelve years, and he hadn't have a stronger reason either after losing his parents in the Ahmedabad bomb blasts. Being a single child of a retired Lieutinent, everyone always thought the reason behind him coming into the army was family legacy, but only Colonel Sharma knew, it wasn't. He was not only Vyom's mentor, but also the father figure in his life. He had collected the broken pieces of his shattered heart, and made him the courageous fighter he was today.

"I don't know Sir, maybe I will take a train and go where destiny takes me", Vyom smiled, he wasn't really worried over that aspect.

He didn't have any family, no friends either except those made in the various base camps, he had enough savings to figure out something in between. He wasn't worried at all, about life.

Colonel Sharma looked at him, and sighed. Vyom's stance was nonchalant, but his firm grip on that anklet was telling a different story. He took out a set of keys from his pocket and handed it to Vyom, along with a chit.

"Don't look at me like that. If you thought your beloved Smriti aunty and Bhumi would even let me enter again without their favourite preson having a place to stay?", He raised an eyebrow, and glared at Vyom who began laughing, looking at his mentor's expressions. True to his credit, even though their were his wife, and daughter, Vyom was their favourite person in the world, and those two were more sad than the entire army combined at that base, about his untimely retirement.

"This is Smriti's maternal property, in Srinagar. The address is written here, nobody stays there, so it's her strict order to live there until you decide what to do ahead. She has also asked you to know she would like if you stay there forever, so that we can all live together after my retirement ", Colonel Sharma shrugged, and Vyom accepted the keys without any protest. He knew he couldn't either way, because one word against Smriti Sharma's care meant apocalypse would fall on him.

An hour or two later, Colonel Sharma watched Vyom retire from the party on the pretext of packing. He closed his eyes in prayer, and hoped what Bhumi and Smriti had planned for him, the destiny will aid them with. He had no idea how these two woman had tracked down Dhara, but they somehow had, and their SriNagar's property had came in handy to convince Vyom to go there.

The rest, was in fate's hands. The Sharmas only prayed that it would bring some solace to Vyom's aching heart and unite him with the love of his life, because truth being told, the kind of love Vyom had for Dhara, was the one people only read in stories.

----------

"Tu hi phli guzarish, hasrat bhi tu aakhri,
Maahi mere masseha, marzi bata, kya teri,
Mai Tumhara, mai tumhara rha"

Dhara ran around the room, trying to find the matching dupatta to the new dress her mother had sewed for her, on her sixteenth birthday. Once she did, she quickly wrapped it around her neck, beaming with joy as she combed her waist length hair, and rolled a few strands, pinning them up.

"Maa, I am going down to the lake!", Dhara called out for her mother and ran out, ignoring the knowing smiles from her, because she didn't want to ruin her birthday.

Vyom had promised her to meet, even though it was a Sunday, he had told her he had something for her, something special, and Dhara couldn't keep her feet steady after that. She was too excited to meet him.

Leh was a beautiful town in itself, Dhara had loved living surrounded by mountains, and natural beauty, but the last three years had become more special because of this one boy she had crossed path with.

Vyom Bakshi.

Ever since his father got transferred to Leh base camp, he had been living with his mother here, and they had become quick friends studying in the same school, preparing for their boards together most of the time. Vyom was the class topper, and that had helped convinced Dhara's parents for their joint study sessions, and the fact that they studied at Vyom's house under the constant supervision of his mother, was a plus.

What had changed in the past years though, was Dhara's excitement to see Vyom, to do crazy antics to make him smile and love the way he would stare at her when he thought she wasn't noticing. She didn't know if there was a name for her feelings, but she knew Vyom's smile had now become her greatest treasure.

Reaching the lake, Dhara looked around impatiently until her eyes fell on Vyom sitting by the lake, a little far away. She ran towards him, her smile not leaving her face. Vyom turned back at the sound of her approaching footsteps, and grinned when he spotted her.

"I almost thought you won't come!", he complained once she settled beside him, pulling her leggings a little up to dip her feet in the water, just like him.

"Like that has ever happened! Dhara can't ditch Vyom!", she stated it like it was a fact, and it only deepened Vyom's smile.

With another stride, he had intewined her hand with his and pulled it to his lap, grinning at her.

"Happy Birthday Dhara", her eyes went wide and she froze as he quickly leaned in to drop a chaste kiss on her cheek. Rosy hue covered her cheeks and her ears turned red, but she could not stop herself from smiling, immediately shy at his action, making him giggle.

"Now that I took my present, I have a gift for you", Vyom spoke cheekily, and Dhara immediately looked at him, clearly excited. Vyom still had one of her hands tightly in his grasp.

"Remember last year we sneaked into that fair and you could not stop gushing about those anklets-", Vyom began but stopped when he watched Dhara's shocked expressions, and she began shaking her head.

"Vyom, that was so damn costly. Please don't tell me you got me those heavy, tingling anklets please. Where did you get the money even? You told aunty? Oh. My. God!", she was shut up by him pulling her with a jerk such that she crashed on him, almost half lying on him. She froze at the impact, at the prospect of having him so close to her, his warm breaths falling over her face, while he stared at her with so much intensity that his gaze burned her. She could feel the heat in her cheeks.

Vyom freed her hand and cupped her cheeks, Dhara was suddenly breathing very heavy, as scared as giddy. He used his free hand to keep her hand on his waist, and she, hypnotised by his proximity, wrapped her arms around him, still half lying on him.

"I wish I could explain what you mean to me, Dhara!", Vyom's voice was so deep, Dhara found herself smiling, her eyes failing to break the stare game at him.

"You don't need to",she whispered, aware of his gaze shifting to her lips as she unconsciously parted them, gulping the lump in her throat.

She was vaguely aware that the lake side was a public place, and they could be caught sitting like that, so intimately, but when Vyom leaned in, everything around her faded. All she could feel was his lips on her, kissing her with so much love, she began to copy him, kissing him back, making him smile in the kiss.

She definitely was a fast learner.

When they broke the kiss, Dhara was nothing short of a tomato, she pulled herself away, not looking at him anymore, her eyes so shy, but her lips curved into a smile, still trying to calm the racing heart down.

Vyom was no better, his first kiss was with the girl he loved, on her birthday, and he knew this was a moment he was going to treasure forever. He picked the wrapped box from his side, and quietly kept in her lap.

Dhara opened it, with mixed emotions, but her eyes twinkled when she looked at the pair of anklets he had gotten her. They weren't heavy, they didn't have big tingling bells, they were few tiny ones just beaded in the centre, in a silver chain.

"I didn't ask mother for money. I have been saving since a year, from my own pocket money. And these are simple ones, you can wear them around all the time, because -", he paused, and looked at her, his eyes dancing with sheer love for her.

"Because?", Dhara knew what was coming, she knew Vyom more than he knew himself. She shifted closer and put her head on his shoulder, to avoid his eyes, and he knew that too.

"Because every moment I would see you wearing those, or you would see yourself wearing them, I and you and the world, would be reminded that you are mine. Today, tomorrow and forever".

Dhara grinned, looping her arms around his, still staring at the Pair of anklets with profound fascination.

It was only moments later that Vyom made her wear them, under the glistening moonlight, after which they walked home, with beautiful smiles of their own.

Two souls who didn't know how to define love, or what exactly was love, had already written their names together, with that very ink of love!

---------

"Mai jaado k mahine ki tarah,
Aur tum ho pashmine ki tarah.
Mai deewaron ki tarah ho, tum jaise ho dareecha,
Mai bageechaa, jo tumne seencha"

Mornings had always been Dhara's favourite. Even as a child, she would wake up with the first coo of the birds, and that habit hadn't changed over the years either. Standing outside her house, the parapet lining her little paradise, she settled on a chair and looked at the sky, sipping her tea. Leh was pretty, but Srinagar was absolutely gorgeous, especially in it's morning glory.

"Dhara!", a voice called out and Dhara looking at her wrist watch. How was it an hour already? Getting up, she sprinted accross the room, and pushed open the gate to see the frail, old lady, looking for her spectacles, yet again.

"How many times I have to tell you Dadi, your specs are always on the left side", Dhara chided playfully and helped her wear the specs, only to receive a toothy smile.

"I keep forgetting, what Can I do!", the lady shrugged, getting down the bed.

"Freshen up first, I will bring some tea", Dhara subtly smiled, and walked out to towards the kitchen. The lady, Mrs. Amrita Mishra, watched her favourite and only grandchild's wife's retreating figure, and sighed. Like every morning, she joined her hands in prayer and asked the same thing - teach her to smile again, dear Lord, teach her to smile!

Post tea and breakfast, Dhara quickly retold all the instructions of the day to Amrita, and pleaded her to not exhaust herself, to which the old lady only made a bad face.

"The lunch is already made, Dadi. And I will be back by five, okay?", Dhara picked up her hand bag, and fixed the creases in the saree, before bidding her a goodbye, "The first class begins in twenty, I should get going".

Walking out of the three bed room ancestral house, Dhara stopped and sighed. Who would believe it had been eighteen long years she had been wedded into this house? Her heart beat faster at the memories, she had to force herself out of it and walk to the school she worked as a teacher in. Teaching those students about how to pursue their dreams were the only hope she had held into her life. Her own dreams were crushed, but if she could help those kids reach their, she could relive hers, too.

She always had packed classes, never having a break in between except for the recess, but that was also something that kept her going. She hated sitting idle, because it took her mind to journeys she didn't want to take. That was also why she taught primary students and higher grade, both.

That day, she was taking the class of second graders, explaining them a story from their course English book, when her saree got stuck into the pillar of a bench. Little Mini immediately scooted down to help her favourite miss, and freed her saree, earning a pat on her head, and a quick kiss, that made the little girl giggle.

When the recess bell rang, most of the students immediately ran out, but Mini made her way to the teacher's desk, where Dhara was arranging their class work.

"Dhara Mam! I have a question!", she asked, rasing her hand, just like she was taught to.

Dhara wiggled her eyebrows, gesturing her to continue.

"All the women like jewellery?", Mini's question made Dhara frown slightly, but she patted the girl's cheek.

"Mostly, why? You don't like?", she questioned back, but Mini immediately bobbed her head.

"I do. I like bangles. Lots and lots of them. All different colours. Mamma also wears bangles. And something in her ears. And rings. The girl in the book today was also wearing jewellery. All the miss who comes to teach us wear them. You also wear bangles, see?", Mini rambled, touching the one bangle each, Dhara was wearing in her hands.

" Yes I do, Dadi amma. But what is your question?", Dhara pulled Mini's cheeks, and asked. Mini stared at her, confused.

"We wear bangles in two hands. Mumma also. The book lady also. You also. But Mamma wears anklets in both legs, why are you wearing only one?", Mini's question made Dhara smile, she realized the kid must have seen her only anklet while adjusting her saree.

Dhara pulled Mini closer and made her sit in her lap. Curdling her, she smiled wide.

"I lost the other one, one day. Knowingly. Because someone had taken something very special from me, something which couldn't be returned, and I didn't want that person to forget that. So I dropped my other anklet near him, hoping he would keep it, and remember me, even if he forgets that he has this special part of me too. Sometimes you want to be part of someone's memories, past, present or future - doesn't matter. This anklet is our memory, of each other", Mini stared at her teacher, blinking her doe eyes, not grasping anything out of her ramble, but she loved her smile.

"You have a beautiful smile Miss. Now I know your secret. You smile when you see this anklet, you should smile more or I will Keep reminding you of it", Mini climbed off her lap and ran out, leaving a dazed Dhara who continued to stare at her anklet, smiling all the while.

Back home after hours, Dhara sat down with a cup of tea yet again in the Verandah, this time her eyes settled on the moon. She had extended her legs and crossed them to rest over the table, her hunched up saree exposing the thin chin tied around one of her ankles.

Amrita watched her from the window of her room, and wondered what was about this anklet that had kept Dhara from breaking down so many times and at the same time, helped her have a good cry at others.

She remembered the first time she had seen Dhara, it was when they had gone to see her for the prospected wedding. An about to be eighteen, young Dhara had watched all the elders with petrified eyes when she was told about the reason of this visit, and Amrita had seen big fat tears rolling down her eyes when her grandson made her wear the ring they had carried, that very day. The families had clapped in joy, but Dhara had ran inside, and her mother said she was probably shy.

That was when Amrita had walked into Dhara's room and found her in inconsolable tears, shaking in fear and exhausted by her family's betrayal. Amrita had held her and let her cry, because she knew how it felt, to be wedded without even given a choice, without even being asked if you want to.

So she had, even if for courtesy, she had asked Dhara if she wanted to?

"No! I want to study. Mother said she will let me study. I want to be a doctor, I want to heal people. I want to become someone worth h-", Dhara had paused, when her eyes fell on this very pair of anklet she was wearing, and she had began crying again.

Amrita didn't know what happened after they left, but she remembered watching Dhara as a bride, looking absolutely gorgeous, her face dull and her eyes lost, but what had puzzled her were feet during the welcome ceremony of the newly wedded couple.

Dhara had only one of her anklet that day, hidden beneath the heavy bridal ones she was wearing, and that was the day, to this very day, Amrita had watched Dhara let go off everything in her life, except that anklet. She had worn that anklet when she got married, and she wore it through all the ceremonies she had to do as a widow of her grandchild.

That was another of Amrita's haunting memories. The wedding invitation of someone in Shimla. Her falling sick the very day, and three months old daughter in law of the house being asked to stay back with the old lady. Most of the known families of the area were invited, including Dhara's maternal family.

One accident on the highway, and their bus had toppled over.

One accident and Dhara lost her parents, her in-laws, and her husband.

Leaving only the two of them for each other.

Amrita didn't remember how Dhara had managed to stand up again. She was herself too occupied by her own loss. But Dhara had stood strong, finished her graduation with the money she got by selling all her wedding jewellery, and then began working as a teacher in the govt school to run their household.

Amrita remembered approaching the topic of Dhara's re marriage again, after all the girl was barely eighteen but Dhara's answer had shut her up.

"I can't marry again Dadi, My heart and soul is already taken. The only place Dhara becomes someone's is the horizon, because that's where Vyom is supposed to meet her, but we keep forgetting Horizon is an illusion. Dhara has to survive by herself, after all", Dhara's gaze hadn't moved from her feet even for a moment.

And that day Amrita had read what she wasn't vocally told. Dhara was already taken, and it was most probably not her grand son.

----------

"Tum na hue mere toh kya,
Mai Tumhara, mai tumhara, mai tumhara rha.
Rishta raha bus ret ka,
Ae samander mai tumhara kinara rha"

Vyom sat forlorn, his feet in water as he played with Dhara's fingers, too lost in thoughts. Dhara had tears rolling down her eyes, but she sniffed silently, not wanting to break the moment, her head on Vyom's shoulder.

"I have always wondered the irony of our names, Vyom. But I never vocalised it thinking not talking about it would be better", Dhara broke the silence, looking up at Vyom with her tear filled eyes.

"Dhara and Vyom. The Earth and the Sky. They are always near, yet never together. They have their own stories, own chemistry, own world. They aren't supposed to meet, are they?", Dhara's voice broke, and Vyom turned to her to wipe them off her cheeks.

"They meet at the Horizon Dhara. The most beautiful sight of the universe is the Horizon", he stated, trying his best to smile through his own heartache.

"Dad has just been transferred to Ahmedabad Dhara, that's not far away. I am already eighteen, you will also be in few days. I will call you, write you letters. And then, one day, dad would come ask your hand for me!", Vyom smiled, holding Dhara's hand tightly, and then paused feeling the ring on her finger.

Dhara didn't let him question. She immediately leaned in and kissed him, her tears mingling with his, his pain becoming hers. When they broke the kiss, She softly pecked his forehead.

"You forgot Vyom, Horizon is pretty because it is an illusion. Just an illusion", the raw vulnerability in her voice, broke his heart.

"Dhara?", his question met only her sobs.

"I am getting married in two weeks Vyom. I am getting married. They are marrying me without taking dowry, Father is happy he can now use the savings to get us our own house. I am getting married".

Vyom knew what this meant. It was her surrendering to the situation. She had no way out.

Dhara looked at him, one last time, watched his eyes water, and the reflection of his shattered heart in them. She watched him go silent, having nothing to say to her. Her own condition was nothing better.

"Just remember, that till the moment I am wearing your anklet, I will be yours - today, tomorrow, and Forever", Dhara wept aloud, pulling up her feet from the water, and unhooked one of her anklets when she thought he wasn't seeing.

And then she ran.

Away from him.

Yet, into his heart.

For he picked up the fallen anklet and clutched it tight in his hand.

"And till the day I have this, I will be yours. Today, tomorrow and Forever!".

---------

"Mai tumhara, mai tumhara, mai tumhara rha.
Mai jadon ki mahine ki tarah,
Aur tum ho pashmine ki tarah"

Amrita heard the commotion outside her house, and peeked outside her window, only to find a young man, unloading his two huge army bags from a cab. He was himself wearing an army uniform, and he looked exhausted from the journey. She realised that finally after years, someone was moving into the house in front of them, it had been locked for years.

"Young Man!", Amrita called him, before he could walk into the house, and Vyom turned back to see an old woman calling him from the verandah of the other house. He briskly walked upto her, and smiled.

"Yes?"

"Come have tea with me. That house would need dusting. It has been locked for more than ten years now", Amrita offered, surprising Vyom. He looked at her and then the house. Tea sounded good, to be honest.

"Don't worry I am not a serial killer. But you are Indian Army, and you need to be treated right!", her voice held utmost respect and that made Vyom nod to the pending offer.

They walked in, and Vyom put his luggage aside. Amrita called out their maid and asked her to take the keys from Vyom and clean the house. She herself began making tea.

"Uhh, I was the Indian Army. I just retired", Vyom tried to clear the air, and the old lady shot a look at him, checking him out head to toe.

"Aren't you awfully young to retire, Young man?", she raised an eyebrow, making Vyom chuckle.

"I am, Mam, but I got injured so I had to retire. And please call me Vyom", he smiled, but it paused Amrita in her tracks.

"Vyom?", her whisper altered Vyom, who was confused seeing her react like that to his name.

"Any problem, Mam?", he asked, but Amrita quickly regained her composure and shook her head.

"No, no. Nothing. Just a familiar name", she clarified, serving him tea.

"You live alone, here?", Vyom asked, clearly concerned for the old lady.

"No, No. My grand daughter in law lives with me, she is a teacher in the nearby school", she answered, but when Vyom looked more puzzled, she exhaled and continued, "We lost our family in an accident. Her husband, my son and daughter in law, and even her family. We two are the only companions left for each other. Now she goes to school and I get bored all day", Amrita complained, and Vyom laughed at her antics.

It had been long that he had felt such warmth from a mere stranger.

"Maybe you will have me for company now on", he winked at the lady, making her laugh.

They didn't realise when two hours flew by, with him narrating his army stories and her listening like an excited kid. It was when the maid came back, done with the dusting that they became aware of time.

Vyom pulled out his wallet, and handed the maid some money, but in that process, a certain faded passport sized picture of a girl in two pony tails, and a silver beaded anklet shining in his wallet had caught Amrita's attention making her gasp.

She found a smile curving her lips up and tears threatening to roll down, at the same time.

"I can't marry again Dadi, My heart and soul is already taken. The only place Dhara becomes someone's is the horizon, because that's where Vyom is supposed to meet her, but we keep forgetting Horizon is an illusion. Dhara has to survive by herself, after all"

"Mam?", Vyom saw her like that and got worried, but Amrita pointed to the wallet in her hands, and asked, "Wife?"

Vyom looked at his wallet, and smiled, shaking his head.

"Just someone who took away my heart!", he answered, touching the picture once a bit too softly, before keeping the wallet back into his pocket.

"Then maybe, I have something for you", Amrita spoke, smiling at Vyom, confusing him some more.

-------

"Mere chanda mai tumhara sitara raha.
Mai tumhara, mai tumhara, mai tumhara rha"

Dhara walked inside the house with hurried steps, throwing her bag on the sofa and ran to Amrita's room.

"Dadi? What's wrong? Should I call the doctor? Dadi?", her worry knew no bounds, but Amrita sat on her bed with the widest grin she had ever known.

Dhara was puzzled. Amrita never called her during her work hours, that too asking her to come home immediately.

"The answer to all your worries, is waiting for you in your room".

Dhara watched the old lady with a frown and then tried checking her temperature, but the lady slapped her hand away, scowling at her. Raising her hand in defeat, Dhara stood up and walked out, turning towards her own bedroom, only to freeze at the door.

She didn't know if she was dreaming. He was standing with his back to her, and it had been eighteen years in between, but Dhara just knew. She couldn't move, she could not take a step ahead and make him face her. She remembered his tear struck face the last time they met, and she didn't know if she had the courage to look at him again.

It was too ironic to believe that not even for one second Dhara had a doubt about him forgetting her, or moving on. She didn't even know if he had kept the anklet she left behind or threw it in the lake. Yet, she saw his back, and she knew, despite everything that had changed, his love for her hadn't.

Vyom Bakshi as a whole might have, but her Vyom haven't.

"I did say that day too, didn't I Dhara?", Vyom turned to face her, tears rolling down her cheeks while she was tightly clutching on to the door frame, "That Horizon is the most beautiful place on earth. Eighteen years it took, but see, we are here, at the Horizon", he walked towards her, his own hand trembling, his feet stumbling but that one piece of jewellery clutched in his hand became the source of all his confidence.

Dhara didn't move, didn't acknowledged, didn't even blink, until she saw Vyom kneeling down in front of her. She knew he was smiling when he raised the hem of her saree and found the anklet on her ankle. Pausing for just another second, he made her wear the other one of the pair.

"Because every moment I would see you wearing those, or you would see yourself wearing them, I and you and the world, would be reminded that you are mine. Today, tomorrow and forever".

Finally standing up, Vyom looked at Dhara, and for the first time in ages, Dhara felt seen. She was hiccuping by now, but as soon as Vyom cupped her cheeks, she leaned into his touch, clutching the lapels of his shirt tight.

"So this means, you are mine, right?", his voice broke as he questioned, every tear he was holding back broke off the confinement of his eyes.

"Today, tomorrow and forever", Dhara only managed to whisper, before Vyom pulled her to his chest, squeezing her in, as they both cried heavily in each other's arms. Only the sounds of sobs echoed in the house for a long while, and it made even Amrita cry, sitting in her room.

There was lot unspoken between them.

Painful experiences they had lived apart.

Ache that had paralysed them from within.

Eighteen long years, and no hope for ever crossing paths again.

But like they say, Agony doesn't stay forever. One day, it leaves for happiness to crawl back into our lives.

Maybe that's how, even the Horizon's Agony left, leaving behind the path, walking on which, together, Dhara and Vyom would find their share of joy! ❤️

--------the end--------