He had fallen in love with her hard. And he didn’t even realize when it happened. Maybe it was the dream. He had dreamt of something silver slashing through the air and seen her blood gushing out. He had lost her, and the mere thought of it had jolted him awake. He looked at her face, peacefully sleeping, eyes slightly opened, mouth slightly parted, and took a breath of relief. Even in her sleep, she looked divine. Image source It had been two months since they had started dating, and she often managed to make excuses to come spend the nights with him. She would often curl up into a ball, just like she was now, and he would hold her. That was comfort for him… and her. Suddenly, she moved and instinctively he held open his arm where she found her perfect spot and was at ease at once. He held her tighter and went back to sleep again. 8:00 AM 8:15 AM 8:30 AM

The final alarm was the wake-up call for both of them.

He stared at her face, kissed her forehead and both jumped out of bed. They were late. Him for his work, and she for hers. He quickly set to making green tea for the both of them. Green tea and smoke by the window, while she put up her feet on his was a daily ritual for them now. The day was incomplete without it, and he felt incomplete without it, on the days, she wasn’t there. They shared the smoke, and when it was done, he stubbed it out, gave her another peck on the cheeks before they could set for work. As always, she hadn’t touched her green tea, but he’d still make it for every day.

What had started out as something in between an infatuation and lust had slowly turned to love. He couldn’t believe it. While he was getting dressed, he was still thinking about her, and how she went crazy with the smell of his perfume. Breakfast was a quick affair and while her cab waited, he too got dressed to leave in his car. Their favorite song was playing in the car, and as he turned around the corner, he waved a last goodbye for the day through the rear view mirror. He couldn’t wait for the day to end so she could be in his arms again.

What he felt for her, it was love, for sure. But he was still alien to the whole feeling.

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He still couldn’t believe she was tangible. She was there in front of him. She was his.

Jehangir Hospital was already rushing in with patients. There were so many kids that day. And all crying in unison. Or so it seemed to her. Dr. Isha Mishra already had a headache and all she needed was the crying and bawling of some children. How was she supposed to concentrate on her work when there was so much noise all around. It was impossible. She decided to take a walk, probably have a smoke and a coffee. The rotting smell was already getting to her. Dead bodies were okay for her, but not early morning. And with children crying all around.

They had brought in a body early in the morning; it had been bloated and the water had eaten away most of the flesh and the face, but it was her job to conduct the autopsy. She could tell it was the body of a girl. Probably months old. Amateur. She thought in her head. Only an amateur killer would throw the body in a river without puncturing it. No wonder it floated to the surface. She was just cursing the already dead body. Why couldn’t it have floated earlier if it had to. Would have made the autopsy so much easier. And the police work so much more convenient. Her coffee was over and her smoke was shedding the last of its embers. Time to go back to the welcoming rotting smell.

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