Bibbu and Bibbi

 As soon as morning arrived, the dove awoke with a special kind of excitement in her heart. There was only one thing on her mind — to find Bibbi and Bibbu and learn about the story of Shiv and Gora.

With wings spread wide, she flew with hope in her eyes. She searched near the lake, around the flower gardens, even by the old wall — but the pair was nowhere to be seen.

Tired and a little disheartened, she returned to the garden, her wings slower, her glow dimmer.
Her eyes carried the quiet sadness of a child who couldn't open the page of their favorite story.

But… she wasn’t the only one feeling low that day…

–x–x–x–

Evening had begun to settle softly over the lake,
the sky turning from golden orange to deepening blue.
The trees stood still, and the air carried a quiet sigh,
as if even nature was waiting for someone.

High above the lake,
Bibbu flew alone.
Right over the spot where he and Bibbi had promised to meet.

His wings moved gently,
but his heart was restless.
Time kept passing…
and Bibbi hadn’t come.

He had been waiting.

And waiting.

His eyes scanned the horizon, again and again, hoping for that one glimpse of Bibbi’s familiar shape gliding through the sky. But time was slipping… and with it, his patience.

Worry had turned into a subtle ache,
His mind kept repeating one question —
"Does she even care? Does my waiting mean anything to her?"

And just then…
in the distance, he saw a familiar figure —
Bibbi, flying in at last, tired but carrying a soft, tender smile.

But instead of relief, a sudden wave of emotion surged through Bibbu.

As soon as she landed near him, still catching her breath, he snapped — unable to hold back.

Bibbu (hurt):
"You took twice the time we had agreed on! Do you even care, Bibbi?
Did you even think for a moment — how I was feeling up here, alone? 

Don’t my emotions matter to you at all?"

Bibbi (startled and weary, softly):
"Bibbu… please don’t say that.
I never meant to hurt you. I was trying to get here as quickly as I could."

(She looks down, her voice a gentle hush.)
"I knew I was running late… and the whole time,
my heart kept whispering your name,
telling me you must be waiting…
and worrying."

Bibbu (voice trembling with barely held-back tears):

"If I was really in your heart... why couldn't you find just one moment? … Just one breath between your busy hours... to send me a sign? …  to cool this fire in my heart?"

His voice shook like a leaf in the wind - not angry anymore, just hurt. Really, really hurt.  

Bibbi could see his chest rising and falling too fast. She'd never seen him like this. She could feel his words like tiny cuts…. She wanted to tell him about how hard she'd flown, how she'd pushed through tired wings to get to him.

Are you… are you changing? His voice cracked—not with anger, but with something far worse…. Fear.

Every word floated between them like a heavy silence, Bibbu’s heart screamed, while Bibbi could barely gasp for air.. She could’ve told him about the storm she’d fought through, the way the wind had screamed against her wings. She could’ve shown him the frayed feathers, proof of how hard she’d pushed to reach him. 

Bibbi’s wings drooped. Her breath caught—not in anger, but in a quiet ache. 

She didn’t argue. Didn’t defend.  

Instead, she turned away, silent as the evening shadows, and flew to the edge of the lake. Perching on a rock, she stared at the water, her reflection trembling with every ripple.  

Bibbu (instant regret in his voice, calling out):

"Bibbi……"  

But she didn’t look back.  

Bibbu walks toward her, slowly, his head slightly lowered.

Bibbu (in a quiet voice):
"Bibbi… I know I said something I never should have. But you know me… that wasn’t really me. It was just a moment …  a flash of jealousy, a wave I couldn’t hold back. I didn’t mean a word of it. I was Jealous… because it stings… my love… it stings watching your wings fly with others in skies where I don't belong..." 🥺

Then, after a slight pause, he continues softly…

"Just because I showed you my anger... doesn't mean you should walk away from me...my love… right?

What he could not say was… (“Stay. My love… stay with me…  Especially then,.. when I'm difficult to love..")🥺🫂

Bibbi (without looking up, voice trembling just a little):
"I walked away because… I never thought you could ever speak to me like that. You were always the one place I felt safe."

Bibbu (gently moving closer, his voice tender):
"And I want to always be that place for you, Bibbi. I won’t let that one moment of weakness become more than what it was. It was like a passing cloud covering the sun — but the sun didn’t go away. Just for a little while, it couldn’t be seen. You are that sunlight for me."

Bibbi looks at him now, eyes moist, heart softening.

Bibbu (pauses, speaking from deep within):
"Do you remember that first day by the lake? You said, ‘I just want a place where even my silence is understood.’ I didn’t say anything then… but from that moment, I’ve tried to be someone who could hear your silence. And today… I broke it with my words. I’m sorry, truly."🥺🫂

Bibbi (with a faint smile, her voice steadier):
I trust your love..Bibbu…  I know, your love is so true…, and maybe that’s why it hurt …. not because I believe you meant those words, but because I know you feel deeply. I understand… when we burn in the fire of jealousy, we sometimes say things we don’t mean. It's our pain trying to speak — trying to show how much the heart is hurting."

“Bibbu… you just should’ve asked me before drowning in that jealousy. Just once, you could’ve looked into my eyes and asked what my situation really was.
And I… I knew that my delay would hurt you. I should’ve found a moment—any moment—to tell you the reason before you had to guess it alone.
We belong to each other, right, love?
Then we should’ve taken better care of each other’s hearts…

I know… my little carelessness broke your heart,
And your words… broke mine.”

Bibbu ( his voice heavy with regret, steps closer and gently says) :

“I would never want to hurt you, Bibbi… not even for a second.
And yet, I did.
Because in that burning moment… I let my pain speak louder than my love.

But even when those bitter words left my lips, my heart was crying for you. 😭

You’ve always been my calm, my warmth… the place I return to when I feel lost.
And that moment, when I thought I was losing you…
I panicked. I broke.

Not because I didn’t trust you…
But because I love you so much, … I forgot how to breathe without you.”🥺

Bibbu looks into Bibbi’s eyes, voice soft and sincere:

“And from now on, whenever I feel even a hint of jealousy, I won’t hold it in or let it burn inside me—I’ll just ask you, without overthinking.

Because I never want moments like this to come between us again, love.
And I know you don’t want that either.

So please… in any such moment, no matter how busy or hard it is, just find a little time for me—say a few words, give me a sign…
Something that calms my heart.”

Bibbi (steps closer, her eyes soft):
"I understand, Bibbu.
When we’re hurt, sometimes our words turn sharp,
not because we want to hurt someone —
but because we want them to feel our ache."

(She pauses, voice trembling slightly.)
"Your love is so deep, Bibbu… I know you.
And I know that behind your anger…
there’s only love." 

Bibbu (voice breaking):
"I don’t ever want to bring anger or jealousy to you again…
only the love we’ve been weaving, thread by thread, together.
I made a mistake…
But from now on,
whenever something troubles my heart,
I promise I’ll come to you —
I’ll ask, not assume."

Bibbi (tearfully smiling):
"We’ll keep each other safe, won’t we?
From our own storms… and the ones the world throws at us.
Because we’re not just birds in the sky, Bibbu —
we’re home to each other." 🫂🥺🫂

Under the soft glow of the crescent moon, they held each other tight - wings wrapped close, hearts pressed together. Tears fell silently, mixing as they slid down their feathers. In that moment, all the hurt and loneliness melted away. 🫂🫂🫂

Nearby, the little dove sat quietly on a branch, her eyes wet with tears. She had been searching for them for so long... and now she understood… No one could tell the love story of Shiv and Gora better than Bibbu and Bibbi themselves...