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

“Yes, Mel dear “

“Jared loves Mel. That is me. Isn’t it?”

No reply.

“Not Angel?”

No reply.

“But Mel does not love Jared.”

“Mmmm…” she murmured.

“So…” I dragged.

“What?”

“Let’s tell him this. Let’s tell we are two souls wrapped in one body.

“No”

“Why”

“He loves you, Mel. If you say him, he will get rejected and the same way I will be rejected. Do you want to hurt us both?” she said.

“But you both should understand me right? I don’t love Jared. I can never love him and I cannot go touching him or kissing him when I don’t belong to him” I argued back. What a blunder this has become. I cannot shift it further.”

“Mel please. Why can’t you love him? He likes you so much and he does everything for you. He can give you a happy life that you have been longing for” she tried to persuade me.

“I don’t know… I don’t love Jared.”

“Why can’t you?”

“I said I don’t know” I was feeling irritated. “Jared is good friend and a good company to me. I do not want to miss him. That’s all I know”

“Sweety. Until you can show me a valid reason, why you don’t love Jared, you have to be with him. Because we are one, you have to give way towards my love. Jared loves you…Angel loves Jared. Not Mel.” She completed the argument and remained silent. I had no choice left.

The next day while Jacob was washing his motorcycle, I helped him with the water.

“Where are your parents?” he asked me.

“They left me. I have been alone for most of my lifetime.” He dropped the scrub and caught my hands.

“Sorry, Mel.”

“It’s ok. I don’t remember it much” I told the boy.

“Everything is Jared for me. He and Mike have brought me up. Alvin joined us late. They are probably on a long holiday.” He spoke very casually to me not considering me as a stranger.

“Can you do me a favour?” he asked me suddenly.

“If I would be able to, surely I’ll do” I promised him.

“Look, the guy called Mike is Jared’s best friend. Mike had fallen in love with a girl called Carolina and he is very much afraid that Jared would not approve of his love. You have to pacify him if he raises any sort of problem and help Mikey. Can you do it, Mel?” he asked me with his crystal blue eyes shining. I could not refuse. I nodded my head and smiled.

“You are much like Alvin. He too speaks less but very thoughtful and caring” he picked up the bucket and went in. I recalled our conversation. There was another person in this world like me?

Day by day, Jared and Jacob grew closer to me. For me Jacob was a small boy and for Jared he was a baby. I eventually grew fond on him. When Jared went in search of jobs, Jacob and I would do housework, play cards and watch TV. When he trusted me, I began questioning him about his school.

“Why aren’t you going to school?” I asked him one day.

“Not interested” his reply came short.

“Why” I pushed him further.

“There…there is one to receive me” he hung his head down.

“Did anyone hurt you?” I asked him slowly.

“No” he replied fast. “I hurt her.” He continued looking out of the window.

“Who is she?” I hoped I had not made him upset.

“Never mind.” He went inside his room and locked it. I was angry with myself for making him upset. I resolved in my mind never to utter a word about this to Jared. Jared would poke him with all his hundred questions. But I made up my mind to find out what the matter was. Nearly a month had been over since I came to New York. Finally things were settling down for me. With Jared’s love I always feel uncomfortable but I could do nothing after Angel’s decision. He got his job in workshop far away from home because no one was ready to give job to a murderer inside the town. Sometimes Jacob’s friend Ashley would join us. She looked lovely and I realised her care for Jacob.

One morning, I got up startled by a huge commotion outside my room. I opened the door and rushed to the living room. Jared was strangling a girl against the wall. Jacob and two more men were trying to force their way between Jared and the girl. An old lady was pleading Jared to leave her daughter alone. Angel reminded me of Jacob’s speech the other day. Instantly everything fell into place.

“JARED! TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF THAT GIRL” I magnified my voice over the push and pull.

As soon as Jared heard my voice he dropped his hands down. The other two men were surprised and looked at me adding to their confusion. The girl smiled at me with gratitude. I ran inside and brought a glass of water to let her drink. Meanwhile Jake and the other two guys were elaborating some incidents. I took the girl Carolina and her mom to my room.

“Thanks for saving my daughter”, the old lady said to me.

“You needn’t thank me”, I smiled back to them.

“And may I know you?” Carolina asked me.

“I am Melinda. Jared bought me here”, I replied her. I couldn’t bring myself to say that I was Jared’s girl. Angel disapproved as usual.

“Oh. Then you are Jared’s girl?” she asked the question which I dreaded a moment ago. I nodded my head and excused myself from them. When I came out, I saw the two guys smiling at me. So everyone knew I was Jared’s girl. Jared got up and caught my hands.

“Oh Mel, if you hadn’t stopped me, what a big mistake I would have made. Thanks dear. Let me introduce them. Come.” he took me near to the table.

“Mel, this is Michael Thompson and Alvin Darko. Guys, this is Melinda Parker”. After the formal introduction, Jared arranged a party that night to celebrate their arrival. That night was so cheerful with so many people in the house. It was new to me and it was pleasant. The thought I too was a member of this family made me thrilled. Something was strange in this family. Every guy looked handsome, Alvin the tallest. Totally it was pleasant to be a part of them. While I was thinking, Michael got up from his chair and held his drink in the air.

“I wish to declare to you all that Carolina and I have decided to get married.” Every one of us tossed the drink in the air. Lina’s mother was so happy that she choked over her drink. Jared and Alvin gave a punch on Mike’s back while Jacob got up and hugged him. I caught Lina’s hands and expressed my joy for her.

“Thanks guys” said Mike and winked at Lina before he sat down. Lina blushed beautifully which I had never felt with Jared even when he kissed me.

“Mel, stop this. You know you love him” said Angel.

“No, I don’t.”

“If I do, then that applies to you as well. Now look out, all are watching you” she reminded me of the surrounding. Jared was ready to shoot out his question and I immediately wished to disappear from the chair.

“The only thing that puzzles me is this habit of yours. Whom do you talk to Mel?” Jared asked very carefully so as not to hurt my feelings.

“It is nothing.” Had I talked aloud? Oh no! I felt very embarrassed. Jared was yet again ready with another query.

“Allow her to relax Jared” Alvin stopped him just in time. I was very grateful and I looked at him while he smiled at me. I mouthed thanks to him to which he nodded his head once and went into deep thoughts.

“So it is done guys. The marriage is fixed after Christmas and so we have got nearly two months before the wedding. Is it ok, Mikey?” Jared asked. Mike saw Lina for a moment and she smiled at him.

“I am afraid I cannot wait so long” Mike laughed.

“In that case we will arrange it next month. Is that ok?” Jared asked again.

“Perfect” replied Mike. We all laughed and went to bed. I was lonely a month ago and now I have lots of friends. Without Jared I would have got nothing. Thanks Jared, I thought. Angel teased but I did not care for it. Angel loves Jared and Jared is my good friend. No one can change this. I called Angel good night and went into a peaceful sleep.

We busied ourselves for the wedding. As I had never attended a wedding till date, Lina’s mother helped me with those to be arranged for the ceremony. The boys were busy booking for the church decorations, wedding invitations and suits. I found a designer to stitch Lina’s dress. I wanted it to be very grand and suitable to Lina’s graceful body. I had planned their wedding gifts too. I turned upside down the whole streets of New York before I had bought their gifts. A shining diamond bracelet and brooch for Lina and a golden locket with the couple’s named carved for Mike (or) Mikey as Jared would call. Atlast the wedding dress arrived. Gorgeous white gown decorated with beads and laces. The dress had a spongy touch mixed with velvet scent. Now I had to hide the dress until the big day. I bought a pearl set for her neck to match the dress. Angel too actively participated in the shopping for she imagined our marriage with Jared. I was surprised why I did not blush at the thought of having Jared marrying me. Perhaps this was not real love. Angel did not accept as usual.

EMILY

October 1996, New York

I had stopped seeing or talking to Jacob. But that does not mean I had stopped loving him. When I saw Valentina in that theatre, I felt as if I had my head crushed in an accident. I could still realize the horror that sank into me when Jacob had taken her to his home, leaving me alone. I meant nothing to him. What an idiot was I? How did I ever believe him? I thought he too had love for me. Everything disappeared as drop of water on the desert sand. I had left to home for a week as I felt I will be suffocated to death. After a long time I saw my parents but I felt no enthusiasm in me. I felt I was a living corpse. The life in me was wiped off. I could not answer my parent’s questions and came back to New York. I felt my aunt’s house would provide much more peace to me. My aunt understood the battle inside me and tried in many ways to soothe me. She spoke many incidents about my childhood that would cheer me up. She cooked my favourite dishes and bought me new outfits. Nothing interested me. She was careful not to use his name to me. Finally one day, she made me sit on her couch and she braided my hair.

“Emi darling. I cannot bear to see you like this. Please forget everything and relive. Do it for your aunt please” she said, her voice full of sorrow.

“Sorry aunt I am hurting you.”

“Yes dear. Understand what is good for you and for your future. Act wisely dear” she finished the braid and kissed my head.

“Don’t worry about me aunt. I’ll be fine.” I tried to smile.

“That’s my dear.”

I realized how much I had hurt her. I resolved that I should never do this again and so I cheered up for her. I called Bianca to home and spent our time together. She was a wonderful dancer and taught me dancing. Day by day my aunt grew less worried about me and encouraged me. Slowly I stopped thinking about him.

When I saw Jacob in school, I felt the monster in me regaining its shape. When he called my name, the sea inside