Rimsha (A short story)

Rishabh got up from his bed. There was a subtle hint of a faint sunlight hovering over the windowpane. He had a dream. He and Rimsha were walking at the Marine drive in Mumbai, hand in hand, without talking. At 5 am, she was in her most beautiful walking attire and yet she was silent. Her eyes glowed with the essence of love. Usually talkative and expressive, she was tongue-tied and immaculately shy

Rishabh had looked at her and asked, “Why are you so quiet today?”

Rimsha had looked at him, smiled and said, “We cannot be together all the time. Today is a rare day when I can hold your hands and walk. I want to relish every moment of this”. Saying this, she had again became silent.

Rishabh had again looked at her with deep compassion and yearned to hold her in his arms and kiss her madly. But he had controlled his urges and kept walking.

Her hand had meanwhile clasped his hand tightly and she looked back at him. Rishabh had known that she had the same yearning.

He had then stopped and she had a look of curiosity

He had then said, “I am having some weird emotions that are affecting me now”

“Just Imagine that you have acted on your emotions” She had smiled and said, “let us complete this walk”

He smiled at the dream and stretched out. Rimsha was certainly a special connection to him. Someone who was not a partner, neither a spouse but still there was mutual love and a deep soulful bond.

He heard a text message alert tune on his mobile phone. It was Rimsha. She wrote, “Is your dream over?” and there was a smile icon.

Rishabh smiled and thought of making a cup of tea for himself. A new message came again and it said, “I miss you”.