The Watermark of Emptiness

One.

: What does all this mean, Tithi?
: Do what I'm telling you. Don't add to my torment.
: I beg you—wound this body of mine with your neglect.
: What kind of request is this you bring before me?
: Believe me, I will find peace.
: Hush! Come to my heart. I won't let you go again.
: Don't stop me, Neer. Over these past days I've cut away so much of my body, bit by bit. Help me with what remains. (At first it hurt terribly, now I've grown used to it.)
This body that cannot surrender to your restlessness—I've decided not to keep it anymore.
: Be still, fall asleep, Tithi. I'm here.


Two.

: In this one life, no one will ever say to you again like that—"I love you." What courage it takes to say those words!
: From the day I first saw you, my heart has been lost in deep tenderness for you.

You can't even take care of yourself. The moment you let go of my hand, I feel you won't give me back the burden of protecting you, Tithi.
: When I touch you too long, my existence feels endangered. I think I might disappear into the depths.


Three.

: Will you give me your diaries, Tithi?
: I'll give you the unfinished diary that captures the moments of our love. You'll write the final entries yourself.


Four.

: The moment I stroked your hair, you grew so peaceful and fell asleep. I gazed at you for a long time, feeling you.
: Why didn't you call me?
: Your love isn't in my destiny, Neer. But I've claimed your feelings as my own.


Five.

: That you couldn't completely erase my existence, that I still remain somewhere in your inner chambers—do you understand this, Neer?
: I never wanted to obliterate your feelings!
: Did my helplessness ever find acceptance in your heart?
: Move away silently, touch your body—you'll understand, your helplessness is my restlessness.
: When someone is hollowed out inside, can their love still achieve any separate fulfillment?
: Love doesn't require fulfillment, Tithi.
: That love holds no special attainment—I learned this only through your feelings.
I can't deny—had I not touched you, I wouldn't have known such depth exists in love without expectations.


Six.

: Where are you, Tithi?
: In wounded pride.
: Silly girl!
: I'm remembering you terribly today, Neer.
: You left your heart with me, Tithi.
: Your last embrace still haunts me through the mist of memory. There's no way back—lost in my third eye.


Seven.

: A silent tomb—is it wrapped only in a shroud of silence?
: You've come, Neer! I knew you would come today!
: Don't stay silent, Tithi. Your tumult still creates deep wounds in my chest. Can't you see? Why do you lie so still?
: Why don't you understand—when you touch my grave, the pain becomes eternal! That's why I wait for you every day.
Will you say "I love you" once today?
: I love you, Tithi.
: Abandoning all the languages of unknown feelings, in that light from the artist's studio that day, I only wanted to hold you close and tell you—"I love you."