Let Me Hold Your Hand Tonight

They are sitting quite far from the beach crowd where several people are enjoying around a bonfire. The sea is quite calm and the distant music with a light moon is making it a very charismatic and young night. They are talking about life, nature, them and their friendship; and they have sacred feelings for each other – feelings like that of love, which are overpowering them, but both of them have never said that they love each other. He wants to say. She wants to listen.

He finally finds a way and says, “Do you know why people shake hands when they meet?”

“Because, it erases boundaries. And it is more like a religious trait, right?” She answers politely.

He half agrees. “Yes, but its strange that we never shake hands whenever we meet. Although, I try to, but I don’t know why…. I avoid it, deliberately!”

She knows the reason. “So, what’s the reason?”

“Don’t you know?” He smiles.

She hides her smile. “Why do you want to shake hands when we meet, hun? There are no boundaries between us that could be erased”

He softly takes her hand and holds it in his right, gripping it firmly. “There must be some reason we are asked to shake hands every time we humans meet. May be, like they say, ‘when we shake hands, we exchange our feelings; we hand over what we feel.’ I am not aware of human anatomy, but I think that our right hands are somehow connected with our hearts. It is like, ermmm…. With out hands, we unite the spirits that we actually are! We shake hands, and we transmit our feelings to each other; and with two spirits being one, we send peace to each other. I just wanted to see what you feel, and you to know what I feel. I came to know about all this today, you know? And I want to know how does it feel to shake hands with ‘you’ when I know why people shake hands”.

She’s inspired and believes him. He stands up; she stays. He offers her his hand and his eyes make a requests . “I don’t know how to dance, but will you take my hand tonight? Let’s dance”.

She smiles widely and holds his hand, which is warm. Warmer now. He holds her hand softly but very firmly. She stands up and his shoulder gently borrows her empty hand. And they dance.

“Did I tell you that I like your name? It is beautiful” he discreetly says.

She blushes. “Yes, you have said that a thousand times.”

“But I don’t remember saying that saying your name sounds like I’m pronouncing love itself. I did, eh?”

“May be, but there’s nothing wrong if you say it all over again. I like it when you say. Her heart beats. Faster.

He smilingly frowns. His fingers touch the tips of her fingers and allow her to move around – she moves around and they keep dancing.

“Do you like ‘my’ name?” His tone is suspicious, but wrapped with expectations.

She knows that he knows and she understands why he asked it.  “I do, but I don’t know how to express my feelings like you do. Words are not friends with me and you already know me more; like I know you more. So many ‘knows’ and you still don’t know! She acts as if she is angry.

He laughs spontaneously. “Okay! Hmmmmm” He stops and stares silently into her eyes. She is uncomfortably happy feeling his gaze. Hearts beat together; the Moon glows brighter; and the waves start breathing. “I’m afraid that I’m madly in love with you and I’m too scared to lose you.”

“Hmmm.” She does not know what to say. Silence. Just a sound of waves crashing into the rocks and foam dying on the sand.

“Can I borrow you from your parents for a lifetime? Let’s change your last name tonight.”

She smiles watching him. “Just a lifetime? What about an eternity?”

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