Father Henry was getting ready to go to church. He caught a glimpse of himself staring at his reflection in the mirror. His heart beat faster when he laid his eyes on his cheek and remembered what happened at Khana's last visit.
He could vividly remember everything when she asked him to walk away or turn around. He's frozen in place upon hearing— 'You really remind me of someone. Please turn around if I have mistaken you for someone else. And if my intuition is right, please walk away.'
He was too scared to turn around, torn between his desire to see her and his fear of revealing his true identity. His heart pounded in his chest as he grappled with the monumental decision before him. He knew that turning around would mean facing the woman he had loved for so long but had to let go.
The seconds stretched into an eternity as he weighed his options. He whispered a silent prayer for guidance, seeking strength from the same faith that had compelled him to become a priest and conceal his past. The internal battle between his love for Khana and his commitment to his vows raged on.
Khana watched as Father Henry remained motionless, his back to her. Her intuition told her that something extraordinary was about to unfold, and her heart raced in anticipation. She had spent years searching for him, and now, she was convinced she had found the man who had once been her lover.
With trembling hands and voice filled with emotion, she pleaded, "Father Henry, please, I need to know the truth. Turn around, and let me see your face."
Henry's mind raced, his palms moist with sweat, but his feet refused to move. The weight of his secrets pressed upon him like an unbearable burden. He knew that facing Khana would shatter the carefully constructed facade he had built as a priest, and it would inevitably lead to consequences he could hardly fathom.
Khana took a tentative step closer to him, her heart aching with longing. She whispered, "I can't go on living without knowing, without closure. Please, Father, grant me this one request."
He made an excuse, saying, "I'll meet you on your wedding day. I just find it uncomfortable facing you after your confession. Please be careful on your way out."
"That's it! Until now, you won't even give me a proper closure. I can't believe I held back all these years and waited for you. I will understand if you left because this is what you want, but why won't you give me peace of mind?! I deserve a proper farewell!" says Khana. She grabbed him, and her hand flew to his cheek.
He turned around and smiled, "Congratulations on your wedding. I wish you all the best."
A tear fell from Khana while saying, "I can't believe you are congratulating me with that straight face of yours. How could you?"
[Knock] [Knock] [Knock]
It's that annoying knock on the door that made Father Henry snap back to the present.
"Father, the wedding is about to begin. Everyone is looking for you to solemnize the event,” says his fellow church servant.
Henry nodded and walked behind his fellow church servant. His steps are getting heavier as they are nearly approaching the altar.
'After that incident from a couple of weeks, it will be your first time seeing her again. Not in the confession room... but on her wedding day, are you truly prepared to face her?' says the voice inside the priest's voice, but fails to get an answer. He lost the chance to decide since the orchestra started to play the song.
The church was a vision of serenity, bathed in the soft golden light of afternoon. Stained glass windows filtered the sunlight, casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the wooden pews. Bouquets of fragrant flowers adorned every other row, their sweet scent mingling with the hushed murmurs of anticipation.
Khana's heart pounded in her chest as she took slow, measured steps down the aisle in her pristine white gown, each footfall a whisper of trepidation.
Her eyes, lined with kohl, were fixed on the altar where Richard, her fiancé, waited. She had dreamt of this moment her whole life – walking down the aisle, towards her soulmate to begin their journey together. She was staring at the altar and thought of the promise by her and the guy standing in the altar, holding a holy bible. As she neared the end of her journey, a strange sensation gripped her heart, making it hard to breathe.
The priest, Father Henry, stood at the altar, resplendent in his white robe. He had a serene smile on his face as he held the Bible open, ready to officiate the ceremony. He was no longer a kid, his beard was slowly growing, but his warm ebony eyes were the same. They were the eyes that Khana had once gazed into and had seen her soul. The same eyes that had loved her like no other.
As Khana continued her slow, measured walk toward her groom, her eyes met Father Henry's. Time seems to stand still as their eyes locked with each other. Khana's heart hammered louder, threatening to betray her in front of the congregation. Father Henry's smile faltered, his gaze locked on Khana's alluring look, which perfectly suited the wedding gown.
Richard, oblivious to the unspoken tension in the air, beamed with anticipation. The congregation watched, waiting for the bride to reach her destination. Khana's mind was in turmoil, torn between the past and the present, between the love she had known and the love she's trying to commit to.
She couldn't move.
She couldn't breathe...
... couldn't take another step.
The space seemed to grow smaller, the air thicker. Henry's ebony eyes, once filled with warmth and love, now held an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. Memories of their shared past, the love they had hidden and lost, flooded her mind, making it difficult to concentrate on the man waiting at the end of the aisle.
Richard, her betrothed, remained blissfully unaware of the turmoil in Khana's heart. He beamed with joy, eagerly awaiting her arrival. But as Khana drew nearer to him, her unease intensified, threatening to suffocate her.
Time hung suspended as Khana stood there, frozen in the spotlight. Richard, now fully aware that something was amiss. He rushed in her direction and reached out to touch her arm. His brow furrowed in concern.
"Honey, what's wrong?" he asked.
Khana glanced at her fiance. She stumbled to utter the words, "I-I..."
Richard, her betrothed, remained blissfully unaware of the turmoil in Khana's heart. He beamed with joy, eagerly awaiting her arrival. But as Khana drew nearer to him, her unease intensified, threatening to suffocate her. Time hung suspended as Khana stood there, frozen in the spotlight. The groom-to-be became fully aware that something was amiss with the bride. He rushed in her direction and reached out to touch her arm. His brow furrowed in concern. Richard gently brushed his palm against his fiancée's flawless arm and asked, "Honey, what's wrong?" Khana glanced at her fiancé. She is afraid to look him in the eyes. She's afraid to meet his pleading eyes and stumbles to utter words, "I-I..."Too afraid of the consequences her decision would bring, she tried to regain her composure and continue walking down the aisle. However, as she approached the altar, a fear in her heart refused to be contained and locked away. Khana's footsteps faltered. She felt as if she were walking throu
The hospital corridor echoed with hushed whispers of concerned family members and friends, their eyes red from both exhaustion and tears. The air was thick with anticipation, and every passing second felt like an eternity. Everyone's attention was fixed on the disheveled man from the church, while Father Henry stood outside the emergency room, his clothes still damp from the rain that had provided little comfort.Richard glanced in the direction of the priest. He stood up straight and approached the man wearing a dirty cassock. Then he uttered, "Father, can I talk to you for a moment?"Henry nodded and walked alongside the man who was wearing a dirty tuxedo. They remained silent until they reached the fire exit.The groom took a deep breath and reached out his arm to touch the priest's shoulder. He looked him in the eye while saying, "Thank you for being here, Father, but I think you're a bit overwhelming. You can visit her when she wakes up. I know you're a good person, but people mi
In the quiet room, bathed in the soft glow of muted light, Khana's subtle twitch betrayed her awareness. However, she skillfully maintained the facade of deep sleep, concealing the internal conflict beneath her closed eyelids as Richard continued, oblivious to the storm brewing within her.At that moment, as Richard spoke about Father Henry's genuine concern and dedication, Khana decided to shatter the illusion. With a subtle flutter of her eyelids, she slowly opened her eyes, taking in the sight of Richard's surprised expression.Everyone would not expect the lady to say, "Who are you?"The room was bathed in a soft, muted light, casting a subtle glow over Richard's intent expression. The room came into focus when Khana's gaze locked with Richard's, their eyes engaging in a silent exchange charged with unspoken tension.For a fleeting moment, their eyes locked in a silent exchange, the unspoken tension hanging heavy in the air. Richard, grappling with the gravity of the situation, st
The accident had left Khana with a suspected case of amnesia, erasing the memories that tied her to the hospital. The door creaked open, and Priest Henry walked in, his eyes filled with a mix of concern and relief. Khana's heart skipped a beat, and her lips were moving, but no words would come out. She was simply staring at him as he walked closer to the bed where Khana was seated.The priest approached her bedside with a gentle smile, his voice carrying a warmth that resonated in the depths of her confusion."Are you feeling better, Khana?" he asked.Khana gulped, and her gaze shifted from the priest to the door and back to the man who had visited her ward.Without warning, the priest embraced the lady.She could feel a threatening explosion building inside her chest. Khana looked away and refused to move, even though God knows how much she wanted to hug him back."I... I don't know," Khana stammered, avoiding his gaze. "I don't know who you are," she added, followed by an almost whi
The patient's eyes widened upon hearing Richard's accusation. She yelled back."What the hell is your problem?" She sat on the edge of the bed, glaring at the guy who paced back and forth."We're going to hell if you've been lying all this time. You knew Henry had liked you for so long and even ordained as a priest because he was too broken when we got engaged," says Richard."I don't know what you are talking about. And, If that's the case. Then, why would you get mad over a guy I left for you? Deal with your insecurity! Do not take it out on me!"His words tumbled out in a rush. He replied, "I can see how you looked at each other, Khana. The way he held your hand, the concern in his eyes... It's as if you two have some sort of secret connection. I'm not insecure! I'm also a man, and I understand male behavior. I'm telling you, that priest is a wolf in sheep's clothing!"Khana shook her head. Her voice tinged with frustration. "How dare you insult a priest?! Have some decency!"Richa
But Khana shook her head, her eyes glistening with tears she hadn't yet shed. "It's not just about trust, Richard. It's about us. About who we are together." She paused for a moment to take a deep breath. "And right now, I'm unsure if that's enough," she added.The weight of her words hung between them, creating a suffocating silence. Richard wanted to reach out to her, to hold her close, and never let her go. He was hesitant to sit next to her. He felt guilty for starting an argument. Such was the unexpected ending of an argument he had never seen coming."So what are you saying?" Richard asked, his voice barely audible over the pounding of his own heart. Deep down, he wished not to hear the word he had already concluded in his mind. He hoped that she would never break up with him.Khana took a deep breath, preparing for what she was about to say. "I'm saying that we should end this now. I don't want to get married anymore."Richard knelt and pleaded. He grasped the hem of Khana's w
After a week of being confined to the hospital ward, Khana was finally discharged. Richard was there, waiting anxiously outside her room, his heart pounding with hope and fear. The lady's groom-to-be was determined to win her back, to convince her that their love was real, even if she couldn't remember it.Richard's heart skipped a beat when he noticed Khana emerged from the ward, supported by a nurse. It is no surprise she looked fragile and lost, her eyes clouded with confusion, yet he refused to let doubt creep in. He stepped forward, offering her a reassuring smile as he reached out to take her hand. Then, Richard kissed the back of her hand, even though he felt her wanting to pull her hand back."Khana," he said softly, his voice trembling with emotion. "I'm so glad you're okay."Khana nodded weakly, her gaze drifting away as if she couldn't bear to meet his eyes. Richard's heart sank at the sight, but he pushed aside his own pain and tried once more to get her attention."Khana
Richard stirred in the kitchen, the aroma of freshly cooked pancakes and brewed coffee wafting through the air. It was a special morning for him, as he was preparing breakfast in bed for Khana, his fiancée. He meticulously arranged the tray with her favorite foods, hoping to bring a smile to her face and perhaps rekindle some memories of their happier times together. As he carefully carried the tray to their bedroom, he couldn't shake off the feeling of uncertainty gnawing at him. He set the tray down on the bedside table, the anticipation building within him. Would this gesture be enough to bridge the growing gap between them? He couldn't help but feel a twinge of nervousness. Would Khana like it? Would it bring back fond memories for her? He pushed the doubts aside, focusing instead on his love for her and his hope that today would be a turning point for their relationship.Khana stirred from her slumber, her eyes fluttering open to see Richard standing by the bed with a hopeful