That Evening Sun

"Will you give me an honest answer if I ask you something?"

She did not respond to my question in words. Instead, she looked straight into my eyes for a short while, as if she was preparing herself for a question. As I learnt she was ready for it, I asked her, very cautiously.

"What is it like, being loved by me?"

As I rightly expected, she wasn't ready for this at all. She calmly look away, and didn't say a word. Since past one hour we were sitting silently on this eroded sedimentary rock; our favorite spot on this beach. She was now looking at the horizon. Sky was gorgeously spoiled with a million shades of saffron emitted by the setting sun. Air between us was heavy, humid and salty. Gentle wind was blowing, playing with her curly hair, kissing repeatedly her cheeks. She took her time to respond, as I was having my share of anxiety inside my head.

"Magic" again a momentary pause she took, to turn her head and look at me. "Being loved by you is like a magic on me. I didn't realize when I started being loved. And after these many years, I still don't know WHY I was being loved. Why I was chosen, or what made me the deserving one. Being loved by you is serene, as when I have your love, I desire nothing else in the world. Being loved by you is addiction; something without which it is impossible to live. Being loved by you is a boon, as with you - within you, I found myself. Being loved by you is a sin, because you are in my prayers more than my God. Being loved by you is my strength; love has made me so much more than what I used to be before it. Being loved by you is pleasure; my heart feels it with every single beat. Being loved by you is crushing me, as I am out of possible ways to love you back with such intensity and faith. Being loved by you is like facing tidal waves, I can not contain it; never tried to. Being in love by you is the only constant in my life, as when you and I became We, I had my doubts that eventually everything will fade away. Today I confess, that I have no doubts whatsoever, as being loved by you is absolutely like a magic, which controls me, empowers me, surrounds me and makes everything else disappear, even my fears."

I, almost astonished and satisfied at the same time, could not say anything. I held her hand gingerly, and said "some evening, you may ask me the same question. But ask me that before Sun sets. Don't be late".

"I will. Before the Sun sets. Because I am afraid of facing the sea, after the sunset" and she choked.

And a faint sound we heard, coming from a few hundred feet away "mom, dad, let's go. Kids done playing in sand and now waiting for their beloved grand parents!! Time to go home and cut the cake!" Our daughter shouted.

I stood up, as quickly as my aged bones allowed me, still holding her hands, helped her stand up on her feet. I kissed her hand, as I could sense her blushing in deeming light of dissolving Sun, and said "40 years of togetherness Sweetheart. Congratulations to us".

"Let's make it till a thousand more" she smiled and hugged me with the same warmth as our first.

- Asthir Amdavadi