The Strangers - Across the Silent Heartbeat-Chapter 20: Hidden Sorrows

But now the Pongal festival was over, so were the equally important but silent moments for the new life of Arjun and Ayesha. So after every run done in mile-a-minute speed among all the pots and gaiety of the festival, now that the show was over, life fell back into the pattern at the university, and with it began the new hurdles.

Mira was a very dear friend of Arjun, and she had watched him so closely for months. She recalls from that day that Ayesha went missing, Arjun had developed a kind of silence that began away from the back of everything. Due to the way she had always conceived Arjun to be sturdy and strong, at times, Mira felt a little bit frustrated by the fact that he did his fighting all alone in his battles.

The afternoon was that, when Arjun was hence, tied up with the project. Mira and Ayesha only reached some secluded corner near the campus. Now frowning, with a tinge of exasperation, Mira began talking about Arjun.

"You know, Ayesha," Mira broke in with irritation, anger in her tone, "I've seen Arjun go through a hell lot, and that one thing which I had found in him and which used to command my respect was the way he used to keep his emotions under control. But since you came back, he has been even more of a rock. It's like he built up some sort of wall around himself."

Ayesha listened to Mira with bated breath, very curious. Mentions of the word filled her heart, that continued to sink. Probably it hurt a lot in the way Arjun hid his emotions, maybe in just sitting silently with her part of the melancholy. Had she been blinded by the reunion and joyous festivals? Actually, she had not realized how much Arjun was actually crumbling this time that they had both been apart.

He's always been very strong. Sometimes, I wish that he should open up to all of us, so this should not be so unfair to him. That huge load on his shoulder for all those years, he should at least put his feelings in front of someone who cares.

Mira's words seemed to go deep inside the heart of Aisha. Arjun, in all that time, seemed to be strong for her, but today some other side of him is seen—weak and supportive.

The amount of pain he was going through alone was moistening her eyes.

The discovery of the revealed Truth made Ayesha ecstatic as she raced back to Arjun, who was at his regular spot. Scaring him seemed to be possible for her, for he sprang up In alarm and concern.

"Ayesha? What's the matter?".

She came and walked up towards Arjun, took his hand into her own, not saying anything at all. The way she acted was so sudden and uncalled for, Arjun was left suddenly taken aback, and in the eyes of that stranger, the depth of the emotions—it was the moment of sadness when tears rolled down her face and at the same time, she was tightly holding his hand, saying nothing at all.

Then he pressed her more close to him, and, hurt and in much trouble of mind, asked, "What aileth thee, my Ayesha?" in a low, trembling voice.

Ayesha continued to wail for another few moments, and then literally the lines of emotions went out of control. She buried her face on his shoulder to seek some comfort in the warmth with tears flowing. Arjun held her affectionately, unaware of what cause had ripped her heart apart but his heart bled at the sight of her crying.

At last, slowly and over time, the tears dried up. She looked at him and felt a twinkle of determination mixed with near-sobs of vulnerability. She said nothing but just reached out towards his hand and effortlessly kissed it. Comfort, understanding, support, and love—it said a thousand times more than words could have said with that small, single gesture.

Tender it was, his free hand cupping at her face as he probed those eyes for answers. "Ayesha, tell me what is wrong. It is my desire to understand it.".

Ayesha finally let the breath in deep, her emotions still raw but final resolve firm. "I'm so sorry, Arjun," she whispered, her words shaky. "I'm just now finding out how much you keep from everybody, how much you've been suffering, and I want to be there for you, to share your burdens.".

He felt his chest so light with relief as he thanked her, just holding her in for a slight hug and holding her close. "Thank you, Ayesha," he choked. I just did not want to trouble or burden you with my issues; knowing you are here for me is more than what one could have imagined.

That was very bonding, a soulful moment. It was another kind of touching happening at the end of the drama, when Rahat asked for a kiss on her hand, and she bridged the chasm torn between the two of them. It's like always assuring each other that they will have each other to hold in moments of despair.

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They embraced, and the world abated. It was now just the two of them: in love with each other, through a resolution that would get them on with everything that was to come.