EMBRACE OF MISTS by Sowmya Latha (important of reading books .TXT) 📕

to sulk. I lifted my eyes to see the newly found friend’s face who was seriously looking at me.

“Er, can I ask you something, Mel?” he asked slowly. I knew what he was going to ask and I hurriedly replied to him.

“Just an annoying thought. Self analysis. Never mind about that.” I bit my sandwich and changed the topic.

“Have you finished your food? Shall we go for an outing?” He too left the topic for me.

“Yes, Yes.” I drank the juice and followed him.

He took me deep into the forest. He chose a large tree and drew some circles on it. Then he came near me and gave me the gun. Shivering I took it from him and he helped me shoot the bullet right at the middle of those circles. He gave me practice with it for few hours. I picked up well and he appreciated me. The rest of the day we trekked, swam and hunted small animals. In the night we set up fire and had dinner. We spent a lot of time together. He cared for me and his warmth made me come out of my solitary. Day by day, we went out for shopping, trekking, swimming, tree climbing and we had so much fun. Once I slipped from a tree and broke my leg. He took me to the doctor and bandaged me. He looked after me with great care. We played cards and chess. Sometimes he read me stories and entertained me singing. Also he made paint while I sat on bed. He helped me with the colours and eventually I had painted a small heap of paintings. Then finally arrived the last day of our holiday. He helped me pack my bags and arrange the room.

That night, we had our dinner in silence. After eating, he came near me to kiss me good night. I stood there nervous, only Angel blooming with shyness. He stopped near me and took my hands.

“Mel, I wish you will be able to paint now what I had asked for. Can you please try it for me?” he asked gently.

He brought me a plain white sheet and colours and brushes. I sat down to paint. I felt a new Melinda inside me. I drew smiles to depict happiness and tried my best to include the touch of love in it. But what I painted looked as care. As affection. As friendship. The painting I had done depicted friendship brings happiness. As expected Jared was not satisfied with it.

“Maybe you should close your eyes and feel” he suggested.

I closed my eyes. I recollected all these days I had with Jared. Every talk, every laugh, and every touch. I realized he was a true friend of mine. Like Angel, he had become the ultimate part of me. I could not imagine myself without him. I opened my eyes and saw the painting. It looked perfect to me. Jared was looking at me.

“Don’t you want to make any changes to it?” he raised his question.

“Nope. It’s perfect Jared.” I smiled at him.

“No, I can’t agree. Perhaps we should try a little more” he pushed my painting and sat near me. He placed his fingers over my neck and pulled my face close towards his. Slowly he pressed his lips against mine.

Stop!stop! My mind raised alarm. My hands tried to push him away. He caught my hands with firm grip and pushed me down to the floor, carefully without breaking the contact. When I started to weaken, Angel pushed her way inside me and she held Jared with my hands. I was unable to do anything to stop them. Finally he broke his contact and I got up from the floor. I ran inside the room and locked the door. I could not stop crying and I sat there crying. The traitor Angel remained silent not able to enjoy her happy moments with Jared because of me. I felt ashamed of myself.

‘I am sorry, Mel. It just happened. You know how much I like him. Now it is obvious we are in love with him” she spoke softly.

‘YOU. LOVE. HIM. NOT ME. HE MEANT NOTHING TO ME BEFORE AND NOW HE IS MY FRIEND. THAT’S IT. YOU LOVE HIM!!!’ I shouted back to her.

‘But Mel, I am your soul. You think what I think. You feel what I feel. So naturally you love what I love’ she argued.

‘That’ s the case with normal human beings, idiot. We are different from them. Don’t you know that?” I replied her not trying to control my anger.

A soft knock on the door disturbed our conversation or to say our argument.

“Mel, I am sorry Mel. I dint mean to hurt you. I thought you love me Mel. I love you with all my heart. Will you accept my love dear? You can stay with me forever Mel. Not in your lonely world. I can give you all the happiness you seek for.” He paused for my reply. I replied nothing. He continued after the short pause. “Mel, think it over. Tomorrow if you love me, come with me to New York. Or you can go to your home safely. I would not force you. Good night Mel” he finished and walked away leaving me into solitary again.

‘Mel…’ Angel started to speak.

‘Leave me alone Angel. I am not ready for this’ I replied to her. She did not speak another word.

 

 

EMILY

June 1996, New York

I had no strength left to cry. It had been three hours since I had hung the phone. His word, ‘Yes’, rung in my ears. I could not close my ears because I knew that the sound had made its emblem in me and I grew angry with my weakness. So I got up, took my shower and made myself a coffee. I felt better. I called out to my aunt, took my car keys and stepped out for a drive. I need to think about what I had to do next. I cannot simply waste my life hurting everyone.

I reached a calm place and pulled over the engine. I held my head between my hands and pulled my feet upon my car seat. It was an awkward position but I dint not care. I began to think. Can I ever forget Jacob? He means so much to me and I could not ever imagine a life without him. He may lie to me but his eyes would not. Harry told that they had expected him to leave me at a time. But why should he? He said he ‘loved another girl’. Not ‘loves another girl’. Why can’t he move on? It is not a sin. He does not know whether she was alive or if she was, did she still love him? I love him and why cannot he understand that. Fine, if he cannot understand that I will make him understand. I will show him all my love. I resolved to myself and started my car.

JACOB

June 1996, New York

I never moved from my position for a long time after she hung the call. Poor girl. She must be crying now and I cannot withstand this. I knew I hurt that poor girl but I am helpless. Not that I don’t love her but I cannot love her. My Valentina. She is no more but Emi does not know that. I can never forget Val. She meant the whole world to me. Every smile, every touch of hers could never be forgotten by me. No one ever saw her body after the plane crash. I did not have a chance to say good bye to her. She went leaving me miserable alone. This world lost its colour as I felt nothing without her. A year has gone but still her memories lay fresh. How could I ever show love to Emi when my heart still lies bound to Val? I could never do that. Emi is a small girl so she will find it difficult to inhale my words. I had better make it tough for her to hold any kind of affection for me. I felt a tear flowing down my cheek but I dint care to wipe it and got ready to school. I did not go to Emi’s house to pick her up; instead I drove my motorcycle to school. When I reached there I saw Emi’s car been parked at the corner. I parked right at the other end and walked down the pathway. I saw Emi leaning on the wall. When she saw me, she came running towards me. Come on now, Jacob. Act perfectly.

“Hey” she called to me and smiled broadly. Her bright teeth sparkled. Is she not crying? Her red, swollen eyes told me the answer. A lump stuck onto my throat.

“Can’t you stop bothering me?” I spitted out the words. She was taken aback for a moment and then bit her lips. Why does she do that which makes me melt?

“Er, sorry. I just wanted to ask you, if you could go to the movie tonight …er… with me?” she asked me and looked at me with her big eyes. Cute.

“Not interested. Why don’t you ask Harry?” I turned my back at her and walked away fast before she could follow me. After I had gone out of her sight, I peeped out to find her still grounded there, dumbfounded. Good. Now the classroom. I met Nick on my way to the classroom. I ran over to him and he was puzzled.

“Hey Nick, would you mind if we exchange our sitting places in the classroom? I am not able to hear the professor’s voice like I have some sort of …er… problem with my ears.” I then smiled at him.

“What did you say me? Sit near Emily Anderson? Wow! That’s great. I don’t mind.” He punched my shoulders and sprinted to class. I gritted my teeth as there was nothing I could do. I should not feel jealous; maybe Nick could keep her entertained.

I entered the class and took my place at the front seat. I saw Emi entering the room. She stopped, her eyebrows creased in puzzle to see me sitting there. Her eyes looked beyond me and found Nick sitting in my former place. She understood the change and stared at me. I was not able to bear her stare and I pretended looking at my opened book. She walked slowly past me.

I could feel her look stinging me through my back. As soon as the bell rang, I did not wait for a second to give her the chance to question me. I rushed to the library and hid myself between the racks.

“Very funny Jacob”, a voice full of sarcasm poked me. I resolved my face with a stern icy look.

“What’s so funny?”

She stepped one step back frightened by my look.

“Er…., why do you keep running away from me, Jake”, she bit her lips again. Oh my… How am I going to handle this girl?

“Why should I? I have my own personal work and I don’t want you to poke your silly nose into it. Keep out of my way” I told firmly and walked away. I heard her feet running out of the library. She was running to hide her tears. The rest of week continued the same. She would come running to me with many questions, none of them which I would answer.

Finally my birthday arrived. I woke up on that dull day and got ready to school as usual. When I went to my motorcycle shed, I saw balloons and flowers decorated all around the shed. A small chocolate cake carrying one candle was standing on my motorcycle. I reached to cake and saw a card near it. It said,

“Dear Jake,

I am sorry if I had hurt you. Hope you enjoy my small present.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

With love,

Emily.”

I was touched. I searched for her but she was not there except a ring packed in a velvet