Standing atop the balcony with a cigarette in my hand, staring into the familiar darkness once again I recalled what the little girl had asked me.

What is love?

That question was the entire reason I was here in Taki. To understand the basis of the relationship between me and Shraddha which seemed so divinely linked to this place. I wanted to relive how this love felt like, how it blossomed, what it meant for both of us. For days after the incident, I was tormented by nerve racking anxiety and a bizarre array of emotions, waiting in frightful anticipation for the divorce papers to arrive. But they didn't. I don't know if it was her parents or not but something told me it was Shraddha. It was a sign she wanted me to make things right between us. But I found myself helpless. I wanted to call Shraddha but recalled the slap, the embarrassment, her words.

I don't care about your apologies or your love

I felt angry. What was the use of calling her if all I would get in return in just more pain? Did she even love me? Did she really not care? I remembered the smeared mascara, the tears. Why did she cry if she didn't love me? I knew she did but still my pride won't allow me to call her. She had slapped me in public when I had tried to apologize and even after that expected I would be the one to call? But I knew she wouldn't call me either, even if she wanted to. She had made her resolution know when she had left me, slapped me and unforgivingly placed a cheque in front of me. Calling now would only show her weakness, something she couldn't show, not now. I understood her even though I admit that I had somewhere forgotten how I ought to have treat and respect her. I felt sorry that I did. I only wish
I had realized earlier how important she is to me. I wish I hadn't taken her for granted.

There were a lot of questions and I had made this trip to Taki driven by my instincts for something told me this is where I would find my way, the answers.

Still I didn't call her and she didn't call me. Her number was still saved on my mobile. A small click was all that was needed to break the ice. Still for some reason I couldn't. So close and yet so far separated.

I looked at the dark river and took a deep draw on the cigarette. Truly there were no dotted lines in reality. Every boundary ever created was always inside our mind.