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

“She loves Jared, doesn’t she?”

I nodded.

“She forced you to love him?”

“No.”

“Persuaded you?”

“Yes.”

“Angel loves Jared… Melinda loves…me?” he paused for my reply. I could not hold anymore.

“Yes.” I replied him tears flowing down my cheeks.

“Oh Mel” he stepped forward but then stopped. We heard Jared’s voice out.

“But Jared loves Melinda. He knows nothing of Angel.” He retreated and walked to the door.

“Do you love me Alvin?” I asked when he kept his hands on the door knob. He stopped and turned. After a long moment he opened the door and left. He had not said anything. The gloomy world returned to me.

“Angel” I called her.

“Please leave me alone Mel” she replied.

“Is there any mistake on me?” I asked.

“No, not anyone among the four of us made a mistake. Life is playing game with us. I can understand how you feel for Alvin, Mel.”

“I am sorry” I begged.

“Alvin suits you Mel.”

“But Jared loves me so much. I mean you.”

“Let’s see where it ends. Now get some sleep. I am happy Alvin knows everything about us. Let him decide, dear.” She made me lie upon the bed and close my eyes. I closed them with only one face infront of me. Not Jared but Alvin.

I knew Alvin loves me but he did not risk saying it aloud. From that day, eventhough we were alone most of the time he did not speak much to me. Whenever I tried to speak about it, he forced his way out of the house. When I was battling for my own love, Jared who knew nothing of this, behaved as usual to me not noticing the change in me. Then one day he spoke of the thing I feared.

“Mel dear” he called me. My door was open and he entered. There was none in the house except for Lina’s mother who was resting in her room. I saw him approaching me without any hesitation. Not again.

“Angel it is your turn now but can you please make your speeches short. It makes me uncomfortable.” I said to her.

“Thanks Mel…I will try” she said gratefully. She was confused as to how to talk to her Jared properly with me disagreeing to it. I hoped this problem would end smoothly very soon.

“Mel?” he stopped at one foot distance from me. This was unusual of him. Every time he would catch my hands before he speaks. He would strike my hair, cheeks or lips. Something but he would always maintain his contact with me. Now he stood apart from me and looked serious. Slowly he slipped his hand into his pocket and took out a small box.

Oh…oh. The thing I had dreaded for is in that box. I knew what was coming and remained silent. I had allowed Angel to speak for me and this was the end. He opened the box and took out a ring glowing with a large diamond stone in the middle. Where did he ever get money for this? I wanted to step back and run away. He took the ring in hands and looked at me. Angel was excited as this was the moment she was waiting for.

“Will you marry me, my Mel darling” he asked melodramatically.

I felt the world slipping away from my feet as the volcano exploded inside me. Angel and I were torn apart for the first time in our life. We had promised, never to leave each other till we died. All those promises were shattered when Angel lifted my fingers for his ring. When she said yes to his proposal. When their lips moved together with passion for each other.

“It feels like I can never leave you away from me for a second darling. We should get ready for our wedding I suppose” he winked at me. Angel blushed and hugged him tight.

“I love you Jared” she said.

“Love you dear” he hugged me tight. Nobody cared me suffering behind. He left the room and went out for work. I stood there grounded in the middle of the room. I lifted my hand and saw my finger bearing the sparkling ring. Tears flowed through my cheeks

I realized I was not the only one seeing it. I saw Alvin leaning on my door, smoking. His eyes never left the ring. He walked slowly towards the ash tray and put out his cigarette. Then he turned towards me. After nearing me, he took my hands for a closer look at the ring.

“So” he said. He never looked at me but the ring. I did not say anything.

“It’s over, isn’t it?” he said slowly. Still I was not able to open my mouth.

“Angel agreed to marry Jared, didn’t she?” he said. So he knew about my heart and I felt immensely relieved.

“What about my Mel?” he asked dropping my hands slowly. Shocked by his question, I looked into his deep eyes. They were utterly soft. I could not control myself anymore and I threw my hands over him crying.

“I am unable to do anything Alvin. I love you. Please help me… I love you…love you” I cried. He patted my back and stroked my hair. Then he bent down to whisper in my ears.

“Melinda, you have promised me that you would not cry. Are you not keeping up your word?” he asked tenderly. Accepting his words, I dried my tears and looked at him. He smiled, striking my cheek softly.

“Alvin…” I whispered.

“Yes Mel” he still caressed me.

“Don’t you love me?” I asked him, my head bent low. There was a long silence. He slowly split me from his hold and walked me to the bed.

“Take some rest. You are looking wary” he made me lie and he walked out of the room. Why doesn’t he say that he loves me? I closed my eyes and begged for some sleep.

“Mel” Angel raised her voice calmly. I did not want to answer back and so I remained silent.

“I am sorry dear” she continued. “I was not able to refuse Jared. You knew he means a lot to me” she dragged.

“You should have asked for time, you idiot. You should have given me the time to think. You belong to me you did not even think once about me. Now you have pushed me into this most dreadful situation. Not alone you love Jared, you knew I love Alvin. Why didn’t you give me the chance to decide it? You are no more mine. You are Jared’s. Just leave me alone, will you?” I yelled at her.

“But Mel…” she cried.

“Shut up now” I made her quiet.

In the evening, when we gathered for dinner Jared disclosed my acceptance for his proposal to everyone. All cheered but one. Alvin looked very dull but he tried to conceal it. Jared took my hand and showed the ring to all and then he bent down to kiss it. Alvin got up and went to his room, pretending he got a phone call. Jacob smiled at me leaving aside his own troubles while Carolina hugged me. Mike was very enthusiastic and he punched Jared with affection. I could respond to nothing and sat still as a doll. That night I cried breaking my promise again. I had very little sleep. In the morning, nausea took hold of me and I rushed to the bathroom to vomit. My legs were very weak to hold me and my head floated as feather. Before I fell, I moaned Alvin’s name.

When I woke up Jared was near me, worried. Lina was holding the injection in her hand. My eyes searched for him and found him standing near the window, his eyes on me.

“Mel! Mel dear… are you alright?” Jared asked hurriedly. I nodded my head to him and smiled to wash away his worry.

“We were scared. You were lying unconscious on the floor, for how long, God alone knows. Alvin found you and carried you to bed. Don’t worry love… Lina will take care of you and I am there for you.” his voice showed his nervousness and he looked anxious. This guy has changed my life drastically and cares for me so much but still I love him as my friend. Why didn’t he create an impact on me to love him? I owe him everything but why can’t I accept him to take my hands? How would he behave to me if he knew that I don’t love him? Will I still get his affection and care? Of course not. He believes me so much and I am not worth of it. There stays Angel, my soulmate, who lives for him each second. I can never imagine my life without both Jared and Angel. Now I can never live without Alvin. Someone disturbed my thoughts. Lina.

“Calm down Jared. She will be alright soon” she assured. But I did not believe it. My troubled mind crushed my body health. She turned to me. “Mel, you have got high fever and I have given the best medicines. Now just take rest and take care. Come on Jared, you will be late for work.”

“I am not going to work today” he said stubbornly.

“I am alright. Go Jared… no problem” I said in a weak voice of mine. He went reluctantly. After everyone had left, Alvin sat near me.

“Didn’t you sleep?” he stroked my hair.

“A little” I answered him. He persuaded me to close my eyes and I did as he told. In no few minutes, I lost the present. Three days I dwelt with illness and Alvin took care of me. I vomited many a times and he rushed to help wash me. Lina’s medicines did not serve their purpose well and I felt tired the full time, unable to move. Angel would help me cheer up through her encouraging words but her efforts went in vain as my anger on her never decreased and so she dropped the idea of cheering me instead she watched me suffer silently which she could not bear. Alvin was beside me giving the medicines at proper times and feeding me. During evenings and nights, Jared would take the place near me, while Alvin would move giving him the privacy with me. It was aching to see him move unwillingly away from me. So I would move away giving place to Angel with Jared.

Finally I grew better and stronger. Alvin was cleaning my room that morning. His movements were careful not to wake me up and I lied there watching him do the cleaning. He wiped the dust on my photos cautiously and arranged my paintings neatly. I stopped pretending to be asleep and called him.

“Alvin…” he turned and seeing me awake he came near me cheerfully.

“What is it Mel, aren’t you sleeping?” he asked, his voice sounded happy reminding me of the Alvin I saw months ago.

“What is it that you are happy about?”

“It’s about you” he said casually. I raised my eyebrows enquiring.

“You look so much better already and I am happy about it” he then lowered his voice and said, “Even Jared.” I understood it and bit my lips. He neared me gently and released my lips from the hold of my teeth. I picked up my courage and looked at him earnestly.

“Alvin”

“Hmmm” he sighed and signed me to continue.

“Don’t you really love me?” I asked him third time.

“I thought you knew the answer to it” he replied.

“Tell me. I want to hear it” I urged him. He then pulled my face close towards him and placed his lips over mine. He started it light but I responded to him eagerly, making our contact strong. Angel groaned but I did not care. This is my Alvin. He belongs to me and nothing else mattered. We did not know how long we were sharing our love. Finally he released me and I caught his hands for I felt dizzy. He held my forehead lightly and teased me.

“So this is how you respond to my kiss?” he asked pretending to be angry. I laughed.

“What does Angel tell?”