Written In My Heart.

Chapter 22: You and Me.

After a while Sofia came downstairs and saw Ayaan pacing in the hall way.. she came down and stood

in front of him..

S:I thought you were in the car..?

A: Just waiting for you.. Let's go...

Sofia Walked ahead as Ayaan followed.. They reached the car as Ayaan opened the car door for her..

Sofia smiled entering as Ayaan closed the door and say in the drivers seat.. They drove away as

Ayaan asked her where she wanted to go.. After a few moments of thinking she mentioned a hotel as

Ayaan drove towards it.. In a few minutes they reached the hotel as Sofia looked at the building as her

fears resurfaced.. After THE incident she had developed these fears.. To talk to someone.. To go public

places.. And now she might have agreed to come but she still wasn’t ready to face the fears..

She kept thinking trying to figure out a way to escape the situation with out denying to Ayaan.. Ayaan

stopped the car glancing towards Sofia.. Single glance was enough for him to know she wasn’t

comfortable with the idea.. He thought for a second when an idea popped in his head.. He smiled to

himself..

A:I’ll be back in a moment..

He said rushing out of the car without even listening to Sofia as she tried to ask him where he was

going.. She frowned sitting back in her seat looking at her watch and then or the window.. After about

15 minutes Ayaan was finally back as Sofia breathed out in relief seeing him.. She saw a few polythene

bags in his hand and frowned.. Ayaan came and sat in the car and starts it.. Sofia looked confused at

him..

S: what’s all this..?

A:food..!! Lunch for us..

S: we’re not going in?

A: Nah.. I ordered a take away..

S: why..?

A: I figured this isn't the ideal place for lunch today..

He said starting the car and left the parking lot.. Sofia smiled a little while breathing out in relief.. Ayaan

drove the car in the other direction.. Sofia observed the road trying to figure where they were going..

S: So where are we going now..?

A: To have lunch..

S: Where..?

A: Somewhere special..

He said not revealing anything.. He stopped the car near a park after a few minutes.. They climbed

down the car.. Sofia looked around and realized where they were.. She smiled as all the memories

rushed to get.. Ayaan turned to see her standing in her position smiling and smiled back.. Sofia looked

at him as her smile grew.. They both walked in the park as Ayaan held all the bags and Sofia followed..

They walked in the park and sat on the grass where there weren’t many around.. Some kids were

playing on the swings and slides near by but it was mostly empty… They say down facing each other

while keeping the food between them.. Ayaan opened the boxes laying them in front of them.. They

began eating together..

A: remember..?

S: How can I forget..

They chuckled remembering the past memories..

S: We all used to play here soo much..

A: Yeah… so many memories..

S: Foot ball and cricket and tennis.. Before you came.. We used to tease those two soo much..

A: Yeah… they used to complain every time I came..

S: But they always won..

A: Nick was the champion in foot ball right..

S: Yes… and Ryan in tennis.. But the girls gave him a strong competition..

A: The girls were always awesome in tennis..

S: But you didn’t play any one of them right..

A: Yeaa… I wasn’t really a…. Sports person..

S: That’s what you always say..

A: I don’t like sports… but. I did give you a tough competition in studies..

S: That.. I remember clearly..

A: you remember that one match I played..

S: It was hilarious… You were playing like you were in the girls team.. and…..

They both sat talking and remembering the moments while having their food.. After a long conversation

they both got up throwing the packets in the dustbin And decided to take a walk around the park.. Sofia

was smiling looking around the park when her eyes fell on the swing.. Her smile fell as different

memories flashed through her mind.. Her eyes moisten as she stopped in her way.. Ayaan also

stopped in his way looking at her..

A: Sofia… are you ok.

She looked at him and then took a deep breath calming herself..

S: Can we go home..?

A: But why.? We were having soo much fun.

S: I just wanna go home..

A: Sofia are you ok.?

S: I’m fine.. I just… don’t feel.. Good. Please let’s go home..

A: Alright.. Let’s go.

They both walk back to the car and then leave for home. They reach home as Sofia goes to her room

directly.. Ayaan looks confused behind her.. He parks the car and runs to her room. He enters to see

her sitting on the bed with her face down.. He slowly walks up to her putting a hand on her shoulder..

A: Sofia..

She looks up and then looks away..

A: What is it.?

S: Noting.. I just wanna be alone..

A: Sofia.. You don’t look ok.. Wh-

S: I said I just wanna be alone..

She says loudly startling him.. She stands up from her place walking away.. She breathes bit.

S: Ayaan… please just leave.. I really don’t want to talk..

A: Alright.. But if you need anything.. I’m right next door..

He says assuring her while giving a concerned look.. Sofia doesn’t turn so he walks away closing the

door behind him.. Sofia hears the door close and turns to look at the door.. She breathes deeply and

sits on the bed with her head in her hands.. Her friends weren’t the only one she had memories with in

the park.. And some of those had been remembered again..

She remembered the slides as the memories of her father flashed through her eye.. She felt her breath

stop as she lifted her head trying to breath.. Her head started to spin.. The scenes was running in front

of her eyes.. The laughter ringing in her ears.. She slipped from the bed collapsing on the ground as

tears rushed from her eyes.. She looked up as her eyes started getting darker.. She felt her head

spinning as she cried harder.. But nothing was able to stop her.. She started breathing heavily as she

felt the room closing in on her.. Like the walls were gonna squeeze her.. She held her neck as she felt

like someone was holding it.. She couldn’t feel her breath as she tried harder to breath.. She saw a

shadow in the darkness who was trying to choke her.. Her eyes grew large as she tried harder to

breath.. The white eyes shone in the dark like a monster..

She was about to collapse on the floor when she felt two hands around her shoulder shaking her.. She

shut her eyes tightly as she heard a voice calling for her.. After a few moments she recognized it to be

Ayaan’s voice as she opened her eyes.. She looked around as she saw Ayaan sitting in front of her

looking worried and she looked down to see her hands around her neck.. She moved them and took a

deep breath in.. She blinked repeatedly trying to sink in what ever happened.. Ayaan held her by her

shoulder helping her on her bed… she sat up finally calming little.. Ayaan was still shocked after seeing

Sofia’s condition.. He held her hand in his..

A: Sofia.. What is it..? You can’t keep all of it in.. You have to let it out.. please talk.. What happened

over there..?

Sofia sniffed as a tear slides down her cheeks..

S: I just.. Dad.. Today at the park.. We used to go their every weekend.. On that swing.. He used to

push me from behind.. And today all those memories.. I just couldn’t .. You know I’m trying… I’m trying

not to think about it… To forget about him.. But.. I can’t .. I don’t know what to do.. I..

A: You don’t need to forget him.. He’s your dad.. You will always remember him.. But you have to learn

to smile when you remember him not cry.. That’s just gonna hurt even more..

S: I know.. But.. I can't live without him Ayaan. I don't know how I will. I just... I love him so much.. And.

I...I already miss him... I don’t know what to do..

She said as tears flowed from her eyes. she looked up with her eyes blurred from tears that kept

flowing.. She leaned down as Ayaan came closer.. She rested her head on his shoulder as he wrapped

his arms around her.. She slowly let the tears flow drenching his shirt with tears.. He kept a hand on her

head and whispered a soft "It's ok" As she calmed her self down..

The End.

-Zareen.