Darkness Falls

They were expected to sleep on single beds. But Mrityunjay pushed them together, making enough space for them to sleep together. As they got into bed, he held her close to himself, her breath, caressing his chest, through the opening in his shirt.

Shivani slept with her head close to his heart, feeling his heart beat, a steady hum - proof of life. He pulled her face up, cupping it with both his palm and looking into her eyes, his eyes pleading, urging, imploring... begging... for her understanding. "Do you hear my heartbeat?" he asked her, his voice nothing more than a whisper.

Shivani looked into his eyes, her hazel eyes, wide, bewildered, nodding her head. "That will remain only as long as you are fine," he remarked, putting a broad finger to her lips as she begun to say something. "Shhh, listen to me very carefully... if anything happens to you, that heartbeat will cease to exist. My life is in your hands now," he told her plainly.