The innocence on his face was accentuated by the dim light of the candle. Jamila peeped twice from the kitchen to steal a glance at him asleep. After finishing her cooking, she came and sat near Asrar. She felt happy seeing him dressed in her husband’s clothes. The torrential rain had not rested yet. Nor did the thunderous winds contain themselves. The music of the heavy drops was echoing in her ears. In this music there was a magical calm. After many days, in fact, many years, she felt vibrant. She had no justification for this, nor did she have any clear understanding of it. It was just a feeling. In this state of her mind, she was just a woman. All the dust around her had vanished and she was of her own being. The solitude of being in a womb of desires. Jamila was overwhelmed by that vibrant feeling in her womb at that moment.

The food was ready, but Asrar was still asleep.

Jamila at times leaned on the window and looked outside at the rain or looked at Asrar while he slept. A few moments later, there was fierce lightning which woke Asrar up. The sound scared Jamila too. Asrar was amazed that he had slept for so long. ‘Sorry, Miss, I fell asleep. It sounds like thunder and lightning.’

‘Good that you took some rest. Yes, there was a thunderbolt,’ she said while seating herself in the chair.

The dark sky, which could be seen through the windows, now had remnants of the recent lightning. Some bolts spread themselves in the sky and some came so close as if to touch the buildings. They stood near the window, witnessing the fearful circus in the sky.

The candle kept on the table went off. The bolts of lightning in the skies were playing a very dangerous game of firecrackers. Suddenly, a bolt darted towards them, as if to strike the window. Jamila responded in a reflex of fear. No sooner had she turn from the window than her foot slipped. Asrar held her or else she would have fallen on the floor. ‘Do not be scared, Miss; this is a very common occurrence. The lightning bolt has fallen somewhere far.’

‘I got really scared!’ Jamila said, pulling herself together. She stood again, leaning on the window. Her hand was in Asrar’s hand. Together, they looked at the havoc-causing bolts and sparks in the sky outside the window. They could also feel the thunder within themselves which made the soul float. The windows to the body were opened up by the warm desires of the being. This warmth had a hidden magic to it. The desires of the being found their own course.