Because I Love You

The Church was really an old building. Chanchal was delighted to visit it. Shaun noticed as she quietly took out her book and started sketching. She attended the mass with Shaun for some time. But then she walked out and sat in the the surrounding garden just sketching in silence. Shaun kept an eye on her. Dragon's bodyguards have accompanied them. After the mass the attendees broke bread and discussed a few things. Chanchal noticed Shaun knew most of them and they knew him. HE WAS A REGULAR. This much was clear. Sumeet was an atheist. Though Zeeshu would sometimes call Allah for help yet he was not religious at all. Also she never saw Mr. Walia praying. But Shaun....

He bend his knees to the Almighty and bowed his head down. She listened him praying.

" Please forgive my sins my Lord and make her happy. Please punish me but put a smile on her face", he cried.

It was a girl but who? Dr. Josef was in love she thought. She would be a strong girl with high morals thought Chanchal.

The way he prayed fascinated her and she sketched him ...just a rough sketch.

Shaun returned and they started back to villa.

" I need to collect a few supplies Mrs Singhania. Would you mind waiting for me", he asked in the market.

She shook her head.He left and returned in fifteen minutes.

" Thank you", he said.

She stared at him like a fool.

" Umm there is a nice seafood restaurant nearby. Its already noon. Let me treat you as a thank you", he asked.

She nodded softly. She could not say no to a fish. Chanchal loved seafood.She needed it once a week.Rash always cooked pan fried pomfret for her.Singhanias though non vegetarians ate seafood less.

He took her to a posh restaurant. She ordered crab cakes and salmon tikka.

He ordered prawn curry with parota.

" Have you ever been to this restaurant Chanchal", Shaun asked softly.

She shook her head.

" The food is good", he said." Did you have a good time"?

She smiled at him and nodded shyly.

Her smile lit up Shaun's world.

Then he heard...

" Th.th.thank y.you s.sir", she said weakly.

He forgot to speak just stared at her stupidly. She spoke to him.

She never spoke to him after her miscarriage. He was a pariah, a monster. He believed it too.

He held her hands in his. She was startled. Tears came out of his eyes. She was concerned. He closed his eyes and said,

" THANK YOU LORD THANK YOU."

The food arrived promptly. He excused himself to wash his hands and cleaned his face too.

" Stupid stupid", Shaun said to himself. " Do you need to cry you idiot"?

As they ate food Shaun politely talked to her.

" You like it", he asked.

She nodded shyly. She asked in signals

" Are you alright"?

" I am", he smiled.

She was doubtful but took his word for it. She dived in the food. It was tempting.

" You have a lovely voice", he said.

Her hand stopped.

" I am sorry", he said. " Did I offend you"?

She vehemently shook her head.

" If I am not intruding will you let me see what you sketched", he asked.

HE WAS NOT ALRIGHT SHE KNEW.

Chanchal was a kind person. She wished to help. Even Shaun who was unkind to her was mere a human. She took out her sketch book and gave it to him. After they finished food he ordered cold drinks.

And then sipping their mojitos Shaun opened her sketchbook.

Neat sketches of Church, its altar, the cross, the garden and ever detail of the fountain within it. And finally of a man praying to his Lord.

Shaun observed his sketch for a long time. Chanchal was fidgeting. What if he asks why she drew him? There was a deep sadness, a misery a helpless surrender when he was crying in front of Jesus and she could just relate to it.

Surprisingly Shaun didn't ask anything about the picture just quietly returned her sketchbook . She was surprised.

In the car again she could feel a deep sadness within him. At a loss for how to help him she held his hand. He looked at her completely surprised now.

" P.p.please d.d.don't b.be s.sad s.sir", she said with a lot of difficulty.

Tears flew from her eyes. Shaun wiped them.

" Are you crying for me Chanchal", he asked in a heavy voice.

She shrugged. She was so stupid.

" Don't cry for a sinner like me baby", he said.

Shaun lost his control. He hugged her and started crying too.

" I hurt you. I hurt you", he blurted. " I hurt the girl I care for so much. When you laid in that bed in my hospital for a week surrendering to your death I felt as if my heart was pulled out of my body", he cried. " Why Chanchal? Why did you do it"?

" I. I...", she couldn't find words to soothe him.

She kept on hugging him.

Shaun clung to her for his life.

Rest of the journey was completed with both of them hugging each other and crying in silence.

They did not realize that her house has arrived.

A security knocked on their window.

" We have arrived sir", someone called.

Shaun recovered promptly. He took out a water bottle and cleaned her face.

" Apply some make up", he said. She obeyed him.

" Good bye Chanchal. Always be happy and live a long life", he said. May Jesus give my life to you too he prayed.

" W.why d.do y.you c.care s.so much s.sir", she asked.

" Will you take my name just once", he asked.

" I.I.."

" I am not forcing. Its okay if you don't", he said.

She could not speak.

Shaun's gut churned. They all thought she was a snob. In reality she could not control her emotions. When faced with so many of them she would shut up completely.

TODAY IS THE DAY HE WILL LAY DOWN HIS HEART ON HER FEET.

And he knew she would just leave it where it was and run away. She was too kind to stomp all over it.

" You know why I care Chanchal ", he said.

She just stared.

" Because I Love You", he said.

She was stunned at his confession.

Shaun kissed her forehead and said,

" ALWAYS BE HAPPY MY LOVE".

Then he came out of the car helped he to her house and turned to leave when she held his hand.

He turned at her.

You be happy too she signalled.

Then smiling she waved him goodbye.

Lord takes care of his children.

There was a smile on Shaun's face for the rest of the day.