The world is a dark place, darkness is always cloaked with gold but Noor is my light to all this darkness my thoughts are scattered to beyond I cannot stop thinking about the night my accident happened, in a few months or weeks I might be able to walk again properly without the crutch but there is no guarantee that I will be the same I was even the smallest thing brings out the fear monster inside me.

It is Noor who is keeping me sane in all this insanity, I can see how much she is working hard to get everything back to normal she doesn't push me to any limit for anything she is just there for me letting me take time to work things out some days I feel pity for myself and sometimes I feel guilty for not being someone Noor wanted to spend her life with.

No matter what I know Noor will be that fire who is going to keep me warm even on the worst winter nights.

I have always believed that everyone needs second chances because no matter what some people think but everyone deserves a second chance. It's been nine months since my accident and we all are taking slow steps towards my recovery my doctor has told them to give me time, I don't talk much to anyone usually stay at home, I have become this quiet person, which I never thought will happen.

I know Noor is trying to be strong for me, sometimes she just looks at me with this concerned look on her face, and sometimes all I see is love in those beautiful big eyes of her. I don't remember much after the accident but Noor has told me that they brought me to Delhi for the rest of my treatment.

When I was diagnosed with PTSD, it was like nothing can bring me back, we were on a drive to my favorite restaurant when I started having an anxiety attack, it all came rushing through my mind the whole accident. It's only Noor who doesn't look at me with pity look in her eyes rest whoever comes to see me they have a pity look not only for me but also for Noor.

I have heard people whispering in the hallway, talking about what will become of our life now that I can't walk without support, how we will have our kids, what if they are born with some abnormalities, what if I can't have kids. I even heard someone saying that Noor's parents should get her married to someone else. We are a part of such an ugly society that they would say anything, assume anything, comment on anyone like they are insects, and nothing more. We live in a society where people like these don't look in their own homes and come to comment on others and not even feel ashamed of doing it.

I heard Noor's bangles sweet chiming as she walks inside the room with a tray of two cups of tea in her hand, she is been taking care of my everything I feel lucky to have such an amazing woman in my life as my wife, as my love.

I want to hold her close to me, in the space where she can hear how my heart beats erratically every time she is near me, there are so many words on the tip of my tongue burning me inside out but I don't know anymore how to express them. The world is the far less peaceful place we all know that but in my world whenever I look at Noor standing in front of me gives me hope.

I didn't know someone can hold such power of giving someone hope, making them feel love, by just existing.

"What are you thinking Vir?" Her soft voice pulls me out of my trance.
"You" I replied still looking at her.

"Me?" A frown forms on her forehead, as she sits down pulling a chair near me.
"Yes, I'm thinking about how much I am lucky to have you in my life," I said taking her soft hands in mine, rubbing circles on her knuckles.
"Oye sab thik to hai na?" She asks and I nodded in response.

"To esi sentiment baatein na Kari" she scolds me cutely.

I look at her amused, I love her kindness, her passion for everything, the light her presence radiates whenever she is in the room, "I love you, Noor".
"I love you too Vir," she says moving a little close to me, I can smell her vanilla shampoo which gives me a soothing feeling of being at home, with her.

We sat there drinking our tea in silence, I think we all need someone in our life with who we don't feel the need of talking because sometimes silence can also be beautiful just as talking to someone can be.

"Acha I'm going to see Mamma today, but don't worry I'll be back before dinner," She says getting up from the chair and suddenly I felt empty.
"Okay, do you want me to join?" I ask.
"No, baby you take a rest and I have something planned for you tonight so be ready for that," she says turning a little seductive, giving an open mouth kiss on the earlobe.

∆∆∆∆

Noor

I came back home after meeting Mamma and Papa after so long these nine months have passed in a haze, but I loved each moment of it because I got to spend it with Manvir. I felt so lost after his accident but when he finally gained his conscious I was relieved a little cause at least half of our fight was over and now the fight we had to fight is helping Manvir in his recovery.

It's not easy to see someone you love on a deathbed, fighting for their lives the helplessness you feel, your soul on fire feeling that the whole world will burn down. You feel heavy, the burden of your helplessness is too much to carry. The time when Vir was in that room each moment was passed like a slow dance the time was ticking and with each moment passing I was dying inside the lump at the back of my throat was killing me.

I would sit by his side, holding his hand praying all the while tears would fall down my cheeks without any warning. I would dream of floating inside my head dancing with him, holding him close to me living a perfect life with him. I was worried that I will not get to spend the rest of my life with him there is so much that I have to learn from him and there is so much he has to learn from me.

We still had to dance to our favorite music, we still had to celebrate our first anniversary, there were so many firsts that I wanted to do with him, and the fear of not having all that, the fear of not loving him was the worst thing I have ever felt in my life.

In all those moments I just wanted to tell Manvir that I'm trying to be strong enough, I still have to become a better person and if he leaves me stranded in the middle like this I won't be able to do any of those.

So I decided today is the day I tell him everything, or maybe express all of it, Maa and Bauji are going out to some of our relatives so I thought this could be the perfect timing for me to plan a date night for us.

Manvir was sleeping at the moment I am almost done with everything, he isn't able to walk without support yet so I will make sure he doesn't get into much trouble with it, I gave a final touch to the dinner I have prepared for us, went to change my dress though I have never worn something like this in my life for Manvir I want to do this.

I took a quick shower in the guest room, where on the balcony I have done the arrangements for our date night, I put on a red slip dress, did my hair leaving them in curls, put on a red lipstick I put on my heels and it is time to wake Manvir up.

My heart was beating at an unnatural pace as I went towards the bed the sky was dimming, stars peeping through the darkness making it look beautiful, the blanket of calmness comforts me as I look at the peaceful sleeping face of my husband with whom I fall in love every day. The most thing I love about being married to Manvir is how we always find our happiness in the little moments we spend together I know it's a slow process but I'm happy thinking we both have a lifetime to build our lives together.

"Manvir?" I call his name, to which he doesn't respond because of his medicines he has become a deep sleeper.

"Vir, baby wake up" I call once again giving a small kiss on his neck.
He moans a little in sleep "if you are going to wake me up like this every day, I might start sleeping more often".
I chuckled at his response" are you ready for your surprise?"
"Are you my surprise?" He turns to me, looking at me with those adorable black eyes.
"Perhaps...but before that, I have another surprise for you" I trail off my finger on his face keeping it under his chin.

I don't know from where this confidence was coming maybe it's the dress, Manvir eyes turn dark and dangerous he looks at me and inhales sharply I could barely hold my smile for the way he was looking at me, "okay, lead the way" he lets out.

I help him stand up, he is walking with a crutch but still need help, we have been focusing on physiotherapy and also yoga it seems to help him get the movement back which of course is not easy most of the days it ends up him whimpering in an agony of pain.

We slowly moved towards the room my heart was thumping loudly in my chest," you look beautiful Noor" he whispers leaning in.
I felt thousands of volts of current rushing through my veins, a red color creeping up my cheeks making them warm,

"Okay now close your eyes," I said before opening the door of the room.

We entered inside and I whispered in his ear to open his eyes, he gasps looking at the view in front of him " I didn't know you were romantic" he teases.
I took him to the balcony where I have arranged the food and one more surprise"let's eat first" I said.
"No, let's enjoy the view and drink that bottle of wine," he says pointing to the bottle which was settled on the table.

We sat down comfortably on the bed as Manvir helped open the bottle cause I suck at such things, I poured for both of us, maybe this is the right time for my surprise "okay, you sit here I have something for you" I said getting up from the bed.

Shoving out a box from the drawer "what is it, Noor?" The happiness was clear on Manvir's face. This is something I have been wanting to give him for a very long time but never found the right moment.

I open the box and went down on my knee it is a promise necklace it's heart half of which Manvir will wear and half of it is mine just like our heart makes it one, "you are everything to me, and I love every perfection and imperfection of you" I said clasping the necklace, he picks up the necklace and clasps it around my neck.

He had tears in his eyes" what happened?" I ask.
"I love you, Noor" he whispers and pulls me in for a kiss.

I can feel his heartbeat as my hand rests on his chest, our lips moving in rhythm he deepens the kiss I move away and sit on his lap making sure I'm not hurting him much. His hands reached the depths of my body almost like touching my soul by his kiss, he moves down to my neck I arch my head giving him more access he kisses as sucking on sweet nectar, tonight I want him to unfold me in bits and pieces, tonight I just want him to absorb all of it, tonight I want him to unwrap all my coverings and fill me with his love.

His tongue trails down, the blush of my skin cannot be hidden even under the dim light of the room, he had his way of melting me through his kiss. I can feel the curve of his jaw scratching against my skin as he moves down kissing my bosom sinking in, a chill runs down my spine, him working on my body as I am an art and he is the painter who is painting me with his fingertips, filling with the color of love, a moan escapes my mouth as he trails down further I squirm under his fervent touch.

He is the only thing, my heart desires right now to feel, to taste his lips against mine, the warmth of his skin against mine, I crave him as darkness craves for light. The temperature of the room rises moans escape my mouth as his skin caresses me as he penetrates me I moan his name loudly, all my senses entering the sense of euphoria.

"I love you," he whispers, kissing my lips as he slides back in the duvet he pulls me close I can hear the soft sound of his heartbeat.
"I love you" I reply planting a kiss on his chest, and we fall asleep in each other's arms forgetting about all the worries in the world, as every atom of my body melts into the bliss of our love.

••••

God, finally wrote the chapter I know this is not a long-ass chapter but it is something I hope you guys liked the chapter.

Do share your thoughts on the chapter.