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

“I think she is more than wonderful. Mikey has changed completely and he has become crazy about her. I think they are the very best pair I have ever seen. Er… sorry if I had offended you and Jared” he eyed me after finishing the sentence but I could smile just a weak one. I was deeply engrossed in my own thoughts. Was love really wonderful? Why don’t I have feelings for Jared as Lina has for Mike?

“You love him and I do too” Angel said angrily. I was so depressed to answer her. My head was pounding with pain. I just smiled at him as he was still watching me. He smiled back, this time his smile did not reach his eyes. We finished the rest of our lunch and had a very long talk for so many hours. Alvin was a very cheerful and happy guy. Talking with him, I understood I was laughing a lot. His cheerfulness haunted me. Everyone returned in the evening and I served the dinner cheerfully. Before going to bed Jared came to my room.

“What are you happy about, my dear love?” he asked gently catching my hands. We were very close to each other and I released Angel from my hold.

“Alvin was entertaining me today. It could be the effect of it” I said to him. I knew it was the effect of him.

“Ah Alvin… he is a very good natured boy. Very understanding and a very good mind reader. He will be a good company to you Mel darling” he lifted my chin and kissed me. Of course it was Angel who joined him.

“Good night Mel” he whispered in my ears and went closing the door behind him. I stood there rooted to the place. I felt something heavy in my heart.

“Go sleep Mel. You feel uneasy” Angel persuaded me. I took her plea and went to sleep.

Since then Alvin spent most the time with me. Actually it was me who went in search of him. Near him, I felt strong and happy. He took stills of me and decorated my room with them.

“You are beautiful Mel” he said fixing one of my photos on the wall. It was an ordinary quote of praise but suddenly something happened inside me. I felt blood rushing towards my cheeks and they felt hot. I tried to keep my focus on one of my paintings.

“My, look at your blush. You are damn beautiful Mel” he jumped down from the chair and laughed at me.

“Jeez, thanks. I was not expecting your comment” I replied him shyly. He studied me for a long time before he spoke.

“Come on Mel. Tell about yourself. I want to hear it.” He pushed the chair towards me and gestured me to sit down. He sat on the floor holding his knees crossed. I felt warm by his behavior towards me.

“There isn’t much to tell about me. My parents left me long back, when I was a child” I told him.

“They died?” he asked softly.

“My father died.” My reply was short.

“What about your mother?” he pushed me further. I bit my lip and built up my courage.

“She left my father and me when I was a child. She went with her colleague… My father loved her so much… he was not able to live without her. He died after I became nineteen. He looked after me well…he suffered a worse death…he…he didn’t want to leave me alone… he promised…he…” I could not continue. There was a hard lump stuck in my throat. I bit my trembling lips hard to control myself.

“Oh… I am sorry Mel” he got up seeing my efforts to control myself. He caught my hands. Something urged me to cry to him. To pour out the depth of myself to him. I had never cried before anyone in my life. I felt this support was true to me and I cried out all my depressive strains I had undergone.

“Oh Alvin, I wish my mother had never left. I … I thought she too loved me. Never… never… she came to meet me… Alvin. I want to see her…I really want to see her.. to hug her..” I sobbed to him.

“Do you know where she is?” he caressed my hair.

“No… I don’t know. I don’t even know if she is… alive.”

“Mel, some things are better if you don’t think about them. Forget about your mom. She will think about you one day before she dies, if she is still alive” he comforted me.

“No. Don’t say that. She will be alive. I have the hope.” I showed him the photo of my mother. He took a picture of it and promised me to give the developed picture of her.

“Promise me that you would never cry again” he showed me his palm.

“Promise” I kept mine on his.

Angel had remained silent the major part of time as she understood us.

Everything was going perfect. Mike got a job in a shop as salesman. Carolina did her service as a nurse with utter dedication. But something was annoying Jared. It was Jacob. He spoke very little to us. He spent most of his time with his girlfriend, Ashley. That comforted Jared a little. Even though Jared was busy with his work he spoke as usual to me and took me out sometimes. Alvin spent a lot of time with Lina’s mother and I joined their company. We gave her the medicines at proper time, took her out for fresh air and acted many plays to entertain her. Day by day my opinion about Alvin grew stronger. He was indeed a respectful person who cared for everyone. He never spoke his thoughts or affection out loud but his actions proved them. Lina’s mother shared her experiences in her hard life which helped me understand the tough part of life better. Altogether I felt relieved and happy to be a part of the family.

“Did you tell er…Jared about my past life?” I asked Alvin when we were dusting the house together. I prayed that he should say a no. He hesitated for a second and my stomach churned uneasily.

“Nope… should I?” he asked sincerely.

“No, No don’t” I begged him. My haste had sparked him and suspicion grew in his eyes. He dropped the cloth and caught hold of me.

“Now, answer me Melinda” he started seriously.

“What?” I tried to edge off his hold and he let go off me. He focused his look on my face and asked, “Do you really love Jared Weasley?”

I was shocked by his question. No one in that house had asked me this. What am I to say?

“Fool! Say yes” Angel instructed.

“Yes” I said to Alvin. He looked into my eyes for a long time and I could not hold his stare. I did not understand his reaction. He silently bent down to pick up the cloth and continued his work.

“Alvin” I started slowly.

“What?” the reply came harsh. I felt hurt.

“What happened?” I asked him gaining my strength.

“You lie Melinda.” He said that and walked away. I stood there not believing what he said. He knew me. He understood my feelings. My thoughts.

“Oh stop it Mel” Angel replied annoyed with Alvin.

“Angel. He did not see your feeling. He saw mine. He understood me. Not you” I said to her slowly.

She remained silent.

The next day, Alvin did not mention anything about the previous day’s conversation. He helped me with the lunch. After lunch he took me to my room. He made me sit on a chair and handed me my paintbrush.

“Mel, I want to see you paint. Can you paint something for me?” he asked.

“Ya fine. What do you want me to paint?”

“Anything” he replied and went near the window. He then went through my album of paintings. He put on a serious look on his face. He was tall and masculine. His dark hair shone in the sunlight and his chocolate brown eyes were sharp. I noticed his external looks only at this point and I agreed with myself that he was handsome. Every boy in that house was smart and handsome but something in Alvin aroused me.

I closed my eyes. Paint something for me. This is what Alvin wanted. I picturised my moments with him. The hours we sat and talked, laughed. I recalled the previous day’s words of concern from him. The moment when I felt I needed his arms to cry into. Everything went past me. I opened my eyes and stroke the colours across the white sheet. Three hours I did not move from my place. I drew the gift he had shared with me. Happiness. I finished it with the gift he had poured on me. Love. After my final touch was over, I allowed Alvin to see. His eyes, fixed upon the painting, never moved. Tears swelled in his eyes. He did not care to brush them off but looked at me. Then he moved towards the window and stared out. I could not understand his reaction as usual. I could see his fists folded tight and his mouth firmly closed. At that time Jared entered my room and saw the coloured sheet which stood in the middle of the room. He stood shocked and never lifted his eyes off the painting.

“Angel, could you explain to me what is going on here?” I asked her.

No reply.

“Angel?”

Silence.

“Angel!!”

“Melinda!!” Jared rushed towards me with open arms. He hugged me tight and kissed me hard. He never let go off me. This time I was alone with no Angel to respond to him. I felt I was the most uncomfortable woman in the world. I used my full strength and pushed him away from me.

“Stop it!!” I shouted at him.

“Er, Sorry Mel. That was pretty harsh but I could not express my happiness in any other way” he replied to me. Alvin was watching us.

“Happy for what?” I asked him hotly and looked at Alvin who turned his look away from us.

“The painting… The painting Mel. It’s perfect. You proved it again. You have shown that happiness comes out of love in your painting beautifully. I can understand it from your painting. Can you see that Alvin? Tell her…” he spoke excitedly. I was astounded. I felt all the five senses had failed me.

“I’ll show this painting to everyone. They will appreciate it, Mel dear. I am very proud of you.” Jared took the painting and left the room.

The figure across the floor stood staring at me. I lifted my eyes at him. We spoke nothing but I felt we need not speak anymore. Everything has come out into light. I had drawn that painting for Alvin. He had given me happiness and love. And he loves me too. I realized now why Angel had been silent. Alvin and I stood gazing at each other.

“Mel” he cleared his throat.

“Yes” I said slowly. I could not hear my voice at all. But I knew he would have heard it. Of course he reads my mind too easily.

“Good night” he said and started walking towards the door.

“Is that all?” I asked him. He stopped.

“This can never happen. Jared loves you. And he is my friend” he said quietly.

“You knew I never loved him?” I asked him.

“Right from the first day, I knew it” he answered.

“What else do you know?” I asked.

“Something is tormenting you, Mel. You usually talk to the… girl inside you. I mean your soul. Isn’t it?” he asked never leaving the place where he stood. This man knows everything about me.

“Then?” I enquired for more.

“Your paintings show that you have a companion. Is it your soul?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“You talk to her?”

“Yes…”

“You have any shape for her? Voice for her?”

“Both are mine.”

“You just feel she exists…”

“Yes.”

“What do you call her? I mean any name for her?”

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

“Angel.”

“Is she…Angel here now?” he asked curiously.

“She was. Now I don’t hear her” I replied worried. The pain was striking me hard.

“Is it because of me?” he asked slowly touching the sensitive chord.