Our love is fading Away

"This isn't working" she said

"What isn't?" He picked up a book from the shelf and looked at her, "See.. I can speak, I can walk, I can read my favourite books.. I'm perfectly working."

"Shut up Mayank, I'm in no mood for your silly jokes. I'm talking about us!"

Mayank smiled and sat beside her on the couch.

What's wrong?" He asked.

"I don't know. We don't communicate. You always keep reading your books or watch some Hollywood movie, work for the office. I watch something or the other in my laptop for timepass, then I need to cook, clean. I also have my job. We don't have time for each other anymore. We just.. I don't know.. It's not how we used to be. Do you think our love is fading away?"

The sun hid behind the buildings opposite their apartment. It grew dark. Busy car horns and the noise of people chattering in the lobby can be heard. Mayank walked into the balcony and glanced outside. He saw teens crowding around the fast food stall just below their apartment.

"Don't you ignore me now" She said.

"Rohini, do you remember the first time we met?"

"Ofcourse"

"Do you remember how I used to stare at you the whole time in tuition? And always made mistakes during calculations?"

"Yes" Rohini laughed. "You couldn't say anything. My friends made fun of you all the time.. Oh god! How stupid you were!" She laughed again.

"I wasn't stupid. You were just too.. Too.." Mayank failed to find the right words, "Too much for me.."

"Too much? How?"

"I don't know. You were the famous one. Always cracking jokes in the middle of nowhere, always smiling, bright and beautiful. I was so shy and.. I was not that bright. I also had no friends in that tuition."

"Yes, because you never talked to anyone. We didn't even know your name. My friends used to call you the-boy-who-stares or that-weird-guy-of-commerce-with-specks." Rohini burst into laughter again.

Mayank stared at her from the balcony. Her laughter haven't changed much. But latety it is too forced.

"I never talked to you, yet I fell in love with you. I don't think talking defines love."

"But communication is the key to a relationship" Rohini said as she went and stood beside Mayank. 

It was another busy Kolkata evening. Clouds drifted away in the sky to expose the moon which shone gently, drenching the balcony with a soft lunar light.

"Constantly talking isn't necessarily communicating" Mayank quoted a line from his favourite film. 

Rohini looked away. She thought of how he'd always change the topic or would answer with something so hilarious that she becomes unable to argue further.

"When I sleep a little longer in the weekends, you come and kiss my forehead sometimes, I know" Mayank exclaimed.

"Whenever I find someone selling tulips outside the metro station I buy some for you. I know tulips are your favourite flowers; especially the red ones. Five years ago when you first met my parents you wore a pink salwaar and I told you how fascinating you look in pink. Since then half of your closet is comprised of pink dresses."

Rohini looked down at the rose pink t-shirt she had on her and smiled.

"You once told me not to grow beard and see.. I ain't got any single hair on my cheeks." Rohini laughed. This time it was not forced.

"Last sunday you cooked biriyani to surprise me because I had a few rough days at work the previous week. I love it when you randomly sing something while cooking or cleaning.." Mayank paused and then continued "..This is how we love each other. You see, there's no need to exchange speech to love someone. I love you regardless of how much we talk everyday or spend time together. Life isn't always the same. The difference between now and the first time I fell in love with you or the first time YOU fell in love with ME, is that, we're married now and we've responsibilities towards each other. We're busy but we're together and we're in love. Love doesn't fade away. I think it keeps growing into little things. Even if those things mean nothing to others, they hold a special place in our hearts and we'll cherish these memories until our last day."

Rohini rested her head on Mayank's shoulder.

"I'm afraid" She said "I'm afraid we might stop loving each other someday. What if we don't care about each other like this? What if I stop kissing your forehead when you're asleep? What if you no longer bring me tulips? Or you feel my singing is irritating? Or that you don't like how my biriyani tastes? Or I start wearing purple dress?"

"It doesn't matter. I don't think I'll stop loving you if you wear a purple dress. You'll be you. No matter what. And as long as you're you, I'll love you. Trust me, you look gorgeous in all the colours. And if we ever feel like our love is fading, we can always sit and watch the moon and reminisce our days together like this. It's beautiful.. Isn't it?"

They looked at each other and smiled. The moon looked bigger and brighter.

"Yes, you're right. It's beautiful".