Episode 12
The first hour of the night had already passed. The walls of the house had cooled down, and the moonlight softly filtered inside. A strange silence hung in the air, but within Atish, a storm was raging. Meher was still weak, and it felt like everyone was being overly cautious around her, treating her as if she were a fragile piece of glass. But what struck her the most was Atish himself — the man who had never cared for her, who always got irritated by her every word, now wouldn't leave her side. It was all so strange to her.
She gently moved the blanket and tried to get up. A restlessness had taken over — she just wanted to feel herself again, to spend a little time alone, away from everyone. But as soon as she tried to rise, a firm grip caught her wrist. She turned around and saw Atish's deep brown eyes — filled with anger, but something more intense hid behind it.
"Where do you think you're going?"
His voice was as cold and steady as the winter night, yet there was a sting in it. Meher didn't respond — she couldn't. She simply tried to free her hand, but his grip tightened.
"You're this weak, and you're still trying to walk around on your own? Do you realize you could fall?"
She glared at him angrily. Since when did he have this right? She tried once more to pull her hand away, but he jerked her closer in one swift motion. Now only a few inches separated them. Meher held her breath as she looked at him. Her eyes filled with a mix of emotions — anger, betrayal, disbelief… and perhaps something else too. Atish studied her face, as if searching for something in her gaze.
"You've gotten used to bearing everything alone… but I won't let you be alone anymore."
There was an unusual ache in his voice. Tears welled up in Meher's eyes. She wanted to scream, to say that he was still the same Atish who had once hated her — but she couldn't speak. Gently, Atish tucked her hair behind her ear and leaned in close.
"Do you think I've changed?" he asked softly.
"No, Meher… I'm still the same. I just don't want to lose you."
Meher lowered her gaze. Her heart was racing. His closeness stirred emotions she couldn't explain. Slowly, Atish let go of her hand, but his eyes stayed fixed on her.
"You are my responsibility, Meher. And this time, I won't let you drift away from me."
His words echoed through the silence of the night. Meher closed her eyes slowly. She didn't understand this intensity that was now seeping into her as well. Atish looked at her one last time, then without another word, stepped back and walked out of the room.
But Meher knew — this was just the beginning.
☆☆☆
Meher stood on the balcony, gazing at the stars, but her heart felt restless. She was surrounded by her family, yet something felt missing. Was it Atish? Or was it something within her? Her life had completely changed. She was no longer the same. Her voice was gone, along with that lively, mischievous smile that used to irritate everyone. If she could, she would've turned everything back to normal. But nothing was normal now.
Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps broke her thoughts.
It was Atish—standing at the door with that same intense gaze. He looked at her like someone who had made up his mind. For a moment, he just stared at her, then stepped forward and took her cold hands into his warm ones. Meher looked at him in surprise, but Atish didn't say a word. The warmth of his touch was stirring something uneasy inside her.
"Come with me."
Meher didn't try to pull her hand away. Maybe because, deep down, she wanted the distance between them to disappear too.
Atish kept driving. The road was long and silence hung heavily between them. Meher looked out of the window. The city lights were slowly fading behind them. The night air had turned cold. The car turned off the highway and onto a narrow, quieter road. There was only moonlight now, and silence stretched far and wide. Meher began to feel a little uneasy.
Where are we going?
She wondered, but couldn't bring herself to ask. Atish's face remained cold, unreadable—but his eyes held something else. Something deeper. Something Meher was beginning to understand.
The car stopped. Meher slowly looked ahead.
The sea...
A peaceful place. A white sandy beach. The deep roar of waves. And above it all, the moon casting its reflection on the water. This place was completely different—far from the city, almost like a secret.
Atish stepped out of the car and came to her. He looked at her, then without a word, took her hand. Meher didn't resist. She simply looked at him, her heart pounding.
"Have you ever felt that... we can't say everything, but we can feel everything?"
Atish's voice was deep, like the waves had soaked into his words. Meher asked herself, Do I feel it too? And if she did, then why this distance?
Still holding his hand, she stepped out of the car. The cool sea breeze hit her face, her hair fluttered gently. But her eyes remained fixed on the depths of the water, filled with a strange unrest.
Atish gently took her other hand too. He didn't seem like his usual self—cold, distant. No. Today, he was right next to her like he had never been before. Meher kept looking at him. Her heart was filled with things to say, to ask—but no words came.
Atish took a deep breath and turned to look at the sea.
"You know, Meher... every wave of the sea tells a story."
Meher looked at him, as if asking, What kind of story? Atish smiled—a smile that could only be seen in moonlight.
"A story you probably need to hear too."
Meher slowly lowered her gaze. Atish placed his warm fingers gently over her cold hands.
"You know, I used to love being alone. I believed I'd never need anyone. But you…"
He paused, weighing his words, then took a deep breath.
"You're like the ocean, Meher… sometimes calm, sometimes restless—but always deep."
Like dewdrops, I kept falling.
You passed like the wind.
I was fire, I kept burning.
You scattered like fragrance.
The pain in the depths of my eyes,
Only you could see.
I was silent, but every word of that silence,
Was heard only by you.
Meher just kept looking into his eyes. She finally recognized this man—one who spoke little, but felt deeply. Atish gently entwined her fingers with his.
"You may be silent, Meher, but even your silence speaks. I can hear your pain too."
He slowly placed her hand on his chest.
"And whatever I feel here... it's all because of you."
Meher felt a strange sensation—like something inside her was shifting. For the first time, Atish was speaking from the heart. And in his eyes, there was only truth. Her lips trembled slightly, as if she wanted to say something.
"Is what you're saying… true?"
But before he could answer—
"If you're with me, everything can be okay, Meher. You may not be speaking, but you are the most beautiful voice in my world."
Meher just looked at his face. The sea breeze had turned stronger. Atish gently touched her cheek. The night had deepened. Moonlight shimmered across the waves. A quietness formed between them.
Atish's eyes were fixed on the sea, but his mind wandered elsewhere. His heart felt heavy—like something had been weighing it down.
"Meher…"
He whispered her name as if it was something fragile, broken. Meher looked at him. The helplessness written across his face was clear. But she said nothing—just listened, like she always had.
Atish took a deep breath, his fists clenched.
"I couldn't protect you, Meher. I couldn't stop what happened to you."
His voice trembled with pain. Meher's heart sank. She couldn't bear to see him like this. He always appeared strong, harsh—even ruthless. But tonight, he was shattered.
"I failed, Meher. I'm not enough for anyone—not for you, not for myself."
Atish's eyes were lost somewhere deep in the sea.
I'm made of fire,
But you're the song of rain.
You're the patience in my loneliness,
You're the victory in my restlessness.
I don't express love,
But you live in every breath of mine.
Even if I tried, how could I forget you?
You're a part of everything I am.
Tears welled up in Meher's eyes. She wanted to scream, to tell him not to say such things. She wanted to open his clenched fists with her hands. But she couldn't say a word.
"I hate myself, Meher. I hate the man I've become."
Atish's voice was barely a whisper, but it carried so much pain that Meher's breath caught in her throat. Without thinking, she placed her hand gently on his wrist — as if trying to stop him, as if silently begging him to let it go, to forgive himself. But Atish wasn't stopping. He was finally releasing the years of pain he'd buried deep inside.
"I've kept punishing myself, Meher... but maybe it's still not enough. Maybe I deserve exactly what I did to others... what I did to you."
Meher couldn't take it anymore. Tears spilled from her eyes. She wanted him to stop talking, to say no more. She wanted to hush him — but she couldn't speak. Nor could she hold him back. So she did the only thing she could: through her sobs, she rested her head against his arm, gripping it tightly with both hands. And then, she broke down, crying uncontrollably.
Atish froze. Meher, pressed against his chest, was crying as if her heart were shattering — maybe this was her way of stopping him, of asking him to let go of the fire burning within. Her silent plea, her closeness, her trust — it all hit him like a storm.
Then slowly, his hands rose, and he pulled Meher into his embrace. He held her close — so close, as if he never wanted to lose her again.
"I don't want you to start hating me too, Meher,"
Atish whispered softly. Meher clenched his shirt in her fists, as if silently telling him, "I never will."
The wind stilled. The waves seemed to retreat into the distance. And for a moment, it was just the two of them — close, meant for each other.
And perhaps, after years of burning silently, the fire inside Atish's chest finally began to calm.
☆☆☆
The night had spread in all its stillness. Moonlight was pouring in through the window, as if it, too, wanted to bear witness to this moment. The clock's hands ticked slowly, but time itself seemed to stand still.
Meher stood by the window, tucked in a corner of the room. The rustling of leaves outside was faintly audible, but the storm raging inside her heart was far louder.
She felt better now — still weak, yes — but there was a strange warmth blooming inside her. And the reason for that warmth… was him.
Atish.
Atish, who stood leaning against the door, talking to someone on the phone. Every now and then, his deep brown eyes would drift to Meher, watching her with a gaze that said he could not bear to lose her again.
Tonight, he wasn't the same Atish — not the cold-hearted, quiet man. Tonight, he was Meher's Atish — gentle, vulnerable, and deeply in love.
After ending the call, Atish began walking towards her, slowly… like each step made his heartbeat louder.
Meher heard his footsteps but didn't turn. She knew he was coming closer.
Moments later, Atish gently took her hand in his.
Meher's breath caught. His fingers wrapped around hers, and his warmth melted every wall she had built inside her heart.
"How are you feeling now?"
His whisper brushed her ear.
Meher lowered her gaze. She wanted to answer, but how could she? She couldn't speak — and Atish knew that even her silence had its own language.
He lifted her hands to his lips, pressing a soft kiss on them, as if kissing every word she couldn't say.
"Meher..."
He drew in a deep breath.
"I always believed I wasn't capable of love... convinced myself that my heart was barren. But you..."
He paused, searching for words.
Meher slowly pulled her hand back from his grip.
But in the very next moment, Atish cupped her face with both hands.
"You changed everything, Meher. You changed me."
Tears welled up in Meher's eyes.
Atish's gaze fixed on them, and gently, with his thumbs, he wiped the tears trailing down her cheeks.
"You know, Meher... when you're near me, I feel like I'm drifting away from myself — and getting lost in you instead."
Meher placed both her hands over his. She still couldn't speak, but Atish felt as though he could hear the rhythm of her heart, could understand the meaning behind her every silent glance.
"You are the most beautiful truth of my existence, Meher. And I want this truth to stay... to be mine, forever. This isn't love, Meher. Love is just a word. I've been completely lost in you. In you, I feel whole."
"Your silence told me everything I've longed to hear for years... and now I'm finally saying everything I've locked inside my breath. I'm yours. Forever."
He kept speaking, and she kept listening — her eyes shimmering with tears.
"I tried so hard to define love in words, Meher... but then I realized — love is you. Just you. And I never want to lose you."
Meher closed her eyes. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She wept softly, while Atish stood still, watching her.
Then, quietly, he pressed his lips to her forehead.
Suddenly, Meher gripped his shirt tightly in her fists and collapsed into his chest.
Atish froze. For a few moments, he didn't even move. Her tears soaked his shirt, and it felt like his heart had forgotten how to beat.
Then slowly, he wrapped his arms around her — first hesitantly, then tightly, like he never wanted to let go.
Meher buried her face into his chest, her breathing quick and uneven. Atish gently ran his fingers through her hair and whispered,
"No more distances. No more fears... You are mine, Meher. And I will spend forever proving it to you."
The night grew deeper, but the rhythm of their hearts had aligned.
And the moonlight stood witness — that tonight, for the first time, Atish had broken the chains around his heart... and confessed his love.
And Meher?
She had already lost herself in that silent confession.
Continue...