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

I prayed that she should not enter. The door opened. I turned my back and sat on the chair. I listened keenly but I heard only one set of boots. Thanks to Carolina. She had left him at the doorway. I liked her again.

“I heard that you wanted to have a talk with me gentleman. What can I do for you?” Simon approached me.

“Just shut your mouth at the court!!” I replied.

“Sorry… I don’t …….”and that was the end of him. My silencer had done its job very well. I opened the door and walked away with no one to stop me. Well done Mike. I congratulated myself.

 

MELINDA

 

June 1996, San Francisco

Life is short and it is hell. My life has been a tragedy since my mother had left me. She went in search of her own happy life. My father could not give her the happiness she expected in her married life. After she had left, my dad drank to forget her. Neither could he forget her nor could he live a long life. He passed away when I was nineteen. It has been two years since I am alone. Solitude has been my very major part of life. There had been many a times I tried to end my life. But I had promised dad that I will look after myself.

When I was born my parents named me Melinda. Melinda Parker. I grew up with limited mother’s love. My father’s care didn’t last long. I had no friends. I could only envy them being happy with their families. I was always in my turtle shell and I never tried to come out of it.

‘Oh Mel don’t start it again. I am there for you dear.’ said Angel.

‘I know Angel. But I was hoping…”

‘To talk to a human being’ she completed.

‘Yes…’

‘Mel, how many times would I fail to console you? Your loss is big dear. But you got to overcome it…life has to go on. And you have me as your companion. I never die until you do’ she said.

‘But you are my conscience. I have created you. I could share with you everything. But that doesn’t mean I am not alone. Literally I am alone. No one can hear you or see you except me. Even I cannot see you. You share my face.’ I said to her. But Angel dint reply.

Angel is not a fellow human. She is inside me. She is my conscience. I talk to her and I hear her reply. I don’t know whether it s a mental disorder but I didn’t care for a treatment. She is my only friend I have in this world. My solitude created her. In my loneliness I started talking to my teddy bears, mirror but they didn’t respond.

I started talking to myself then. The voice inside me encouraged me. I named the figureless spirit as Angel. Angel has been with me for past two years. She has laughed when I laugh; cried when I cry, felt when I feel. We match in our tastes. We have all qualities in common and it is great to have such a friend. We have no secrets between each other. She knows me and I know her.

I am an artist. I have so much free time for my paintings. I don’t go out for dates, probably no one asks me, or night clubs, no meetings or associations. I paint, I exhibit, I sell and I live on that. My paintings are not masterpieces but neither are they worthless. My paintings usually portray sadness and people sharing similar feelings as mine buy my paintings. Angel encourages me to paint some shades of happiness but I can never do that.

‘I am hungry’ I said to Angel.

No reply.

‘Angel?’

Nothing.

I lost control. I shouted to her, ‘Angel, why aren’t you talking to me? Did I hurt you?’

‘Yes Mel.’ I was relieved to hear her.

‘Sorry dear’ I begged for forgiveness.

‘It’s ok Mel. I will leave you only if you ask me to leave.’

‘Never would I say that’

‘Thanks Mel’ said Angel.

‘Let’s eat.’ I walked over to the fridge. I baked some potatoes, fried some bacon and eggs. We had a hearty meal and we sat down before a plain paper to sketch.

‘What’s for today?’ I asked Angel.

‘I don’t know… maybe scenery?’

‘I am bored of it, Ang. Perhaps, something new?’

‘Hmmm…let me think… hey why don’t we draw us, Mel?’ she suggested. ‘Means?’ I didn’t get what she was saying.

‘It means that we will draw a modern art depicting a human and a soul on mutual understanding. Make people aware of their internal soul and let them realize that they are not alone in this world, Mel.’

‘Great. But why should we display our loneliness to the whole world. I want to be alone. It’s bad but I have you for me.’

‘Let’s leave it as a hidden message then’ Angel said. We started our work. After a six hours’ stretch, we finished it. It was sprayed with dull colours and bright image with a dark soul. It portrayed the hidden message. Filled with satisfaction, we had our dinner and went to sleep.

‘We will exhibit this piece next Friday Angel’ I murmured. I know she would not be asleep.

‘Ok Mel. Good night.’

‘Good night.’

 

EMILY

 

June 1996, New York

It was nearly a month since I had joined the NYC high school. Classes were as usual but we were free for most of the time. Joshua, we call him Joe, was one of my close friend and I knew he was attracted to me. But I didnot want to hurt his feelings neither did I want to encourage him. I came to know about Bianca’s feelings for Joe. She was cute and was always full of energy. She would suit him better than me. John and Annie too make a good pair but they get pissed off with each other for most of the times. It would be fun watching Harry and Eric bringing them back together.

Totally my life was going smooth except for him. He had never come to class often and the days when he came, he would never look at me. Not even a smile. I tried many a times to introduce myself to him but ended in vain. He would never turn.

The next day as usual I got ready to school and had cereals for breakfast. My aunt had stitched a blue sleeveless dress for me. I curled my hair, wore my sandals and drove to school. There’s a concert today and Joe was in the band. Bianca was dressed in black and looked sizzling hot. I found Joe dressed in black to match hers. I had to hide my smile when Joe stared at her open mouthed. My eyes searched for the male model but I could not find him. Disappointed, I decided to be alone for some time. I went to the school garden and sat on the bench. I felt I wanted to cry. But why should I? Who was he to me? He had not even bothered to look at me. Maybe I fell in love with him on the first sight? Stupid Emily. Stop thinking about him. I instructed myself. I don’t even know his name. I dared not ask my friends about him because they never considered that he existed. Neither did the professors.

“Why is that you are not with your friends today?” I heard a voice very near to me. I turned to the perfect face.

“Are you talking to me??” I asked him.

“Of course. Why shouldn’t I Emily?” he asked. My name pronounced by his lips sounded sweet. This was the first time he has talked to me. His voice was deep and romantic. It kindled my emotions again. I started to hyper ventilate and my breath paced faster. I prayed that he didn’t notice the changes in me.

“Can you hear me?” his voice sounded in my ears. I came to the present.

“Er, what did you say?”

“Are you okay? Do you feel sick? Shall I take you to the clinic?” He sounded urgent and worried. Worried about me? I felt thrilled.

“No… No. I am okay. I was thinking something else. I thought you didn’t like to talk to me?” I recalled our first meet. He was silent for a moment and then spoke to me, “Look Emily, that incident just happened. I was in another state of mind that day. Now shall we be friends?”

Is he joking? But I needed to know certain things. “And may I know the reason for you to run away on seeing me?” I asked.

“I shall explain it later Emily. Now can we be friends?” Now why is he asking me such an idiotic question? I am dying to be his friend, to talk to him and to see him.

“What is your name?” I asked him. He looked surprised.

“Jacob Stryder”

“Jacob” I repeated.

“Why are you alone?” he asked. Now how could I tell him that I was searching for him? “Just wanted to be alone. It’s pretty noisy there.” He nodded.

“As soon as the concert starts ill take you there. You didn’t introduce much about yourself Emily.”

“Just Emi would do. And there isn’t much to tell about me. May I hear about you?” I returned him his question. He looked away from me, his mouth tightly closed. Finally he spoke. “There isn’t much to tell about me too. I stay with my brother and his friends near the Brooklyn. Do you own a car?” he changed the topic. I did not want to push him further.

“It’s my aunt’s gift.” I was looking at him. He was wearing a white shirt and jeans. My eyes feasted on his looks. How come the girls in the school aren’t behind him? Is he a murderer? Emily! Where are you senses?

“What are you thinking again?” he sounded irritated. I replied quickly, “Why is it you are always alone? Don’t you have friends?” His face went red in ager. I bit my tongue for irritating him.

“That is none of your business” he got up and started walking. Idiotic of me to spoil the evening. I ran after him. “Stop!! I dint mean to offend you. I am sorry. I will not ask anything about your personals hereafter.” I tried to keep up to his speed. He stopped abruptly and asked, “Promise?”

“Promise” I promised him. The concert began and the crowd cheered for the singers, the musicians and the dancers. Joe gave an excellent performance. Jacob remained silent for most of the time just nodding his head whenever I said something to him. I cheered at the top of my voice as Joe finished his performance.

“You seem to like Joshua. Do you have a crush on him?” Jacob asked me suddenly.

“He is my friend and I like my friends. Anyway Bianca is there for him, Jake.” But he didn’t seem to be convinced. “But Joe seems crazy about you” he said. How on earth did he know that? He had not come to the class most of the time but he has noticed everything.

“Don’t be silly Jake. Let’s leave this. Joe is my friend.” And you are my hero. I thought in my mind. I couldn’t help smiling at him to which he responded half heartedly.

The next day I woke up with a new enthusiasm. I could understand why. Jacob. Jacob’s thoughts worked magic. I was immensely attracted to him. Things were going very well. We became great friends. In class, we sat together. We laughed for everything and fought for nothing. It was exhilarating. At times Jacob took me out. He showed me interesting places that I almost stopped shopping out with Bianca. My friends especially Joe gave a disapproving look when they saw me hanging out with Jacob and I could not guess why. After all Jacob too was a normal school guy and what hinders them about me talking to him?

Gathering courage one day I asked Jacob, “Why do these guys don’t talk to you?” he laughed and said, “How