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

man of irritation but could not find him. I paid the bill and had a walk around the resort but I could find him nowhere. Maybe he could have gone for a swim in the sea. There were so many people crowded, some swimming, some resting and a few having parties. I sat on the sand watching the families enjoying with their spirited kids. I felt an urge, a strong desire to find myself a family, someone I could share my life with. I heard someone clearing his throat near me. Jared.

“In another world ha?’ he asked me.

“Where were you?”

“So you agreed to paint for me, don’t you?” he smiled.

“Yes, I had liked to give it a try.”

“Good. But you need to know what happiness is. What exactly love is. So…” he stopped and looked at me. I raised my eyebrows questioningly to him.

“You have to spend a few days with me and I will help you know where real happiness lies.” He finished his sentence fast and waited for me to react. I felt blank for a few seconds not believing my ears. I imagined Angel clapping her hands for his brilliant idea while I grimaced at the thought of it. It took a very long time for his words to sink inside me. Realizing what he meant, I felt anger gush through my nerves. It was my mistake to believe this man. Stupidity. I got up and started to walk towards my room. He followed me silently. I tried to close my door on his face but he pushed himself in and sat on the couch crossing his legs. I felt loads of hatred building inside me. In an attempt to control my anger I walked towards the window and looked at the sea. The salt air cooled me slowly.

“Mel” he called softly.

I opened my mouth to ask him to shut up.

‘Listen to what he has got to say, Mel’ Angel pleaded. I bit my lips and kept my view out of the window. He took my silence as my reply, got up and walked towards me.

“Look here Mel. Meeting you three to four times gave me some details about you. I realized that you are suffering from loneliness. There is no one to talk to you, to care for you or to love you. You don’t opt for a close friend too. Life must be really miserable for you. What I meant was actually to make you happy. Make you look at the world’s happier side. To help you build up the person you are. Nothing more. I can be a very good friend to you if you would permit and I assure you safety” he finished his long speech. His words stirred me. Stirred Angel. His mud brown eyes showed his sincerity. Finally, I nodded my head.

“Here. Get ready by eleven tomorrow. The flight will leave by three” he handed me a ticket from his pocket.

“But…where are we going to?” I asked him.

“Malaysia” he said. He saw the fear and confusion in my eyes and smiled. “Trust me” his words reached me before he went.

Why does he need to take me to the other side of the globe? What is his plan?

What had I done? So many questions revolved in my mind.

‘Relax Mel. Everything is going to be fine.’ With her words I packed my clothes and waited for the next day.

In the morning, a taxi picked us up at the resort. Soon we checked in and boarded the flight. I tried to hide my nervousness each second. I talked only to Angel. He remained silent as though understanding my suffering. When the flight took off I felt something going low in my stomach and I wanted to jump out of the plane if the air hostess would permit.

Finally, we landed in Malaysia. It was raining heavily and the country seemed so green and pure. Rainforests decorated the country. My hands twitched to paint the scene. People had big families. Big clean roads everywhere, fresh air, free of noise and the place seemed exquisite. I felt that two eyes were not enough for me to admire the place. We were travelling in a taxi and I did not know where he was taking me to. But I did not care. I cared more for these beautifully blessed places. I could feel his eyes on me but he dint bother me with his questions. Atlast the taxi pulled over in front of the house. I got out and looked around the surroundings. He was paying for the taxi and asking something in their language to which I took no heed. The house was painted green to match the environment. It stood isolated in the middle of the dense rainforest. The rain had stopped and the dampness of the place made me feel cold. It was so unlucky that I had not brought a pullover with me. I crossed my hands across my chest and walked towards the engine of the taxi to make myself warm. He saw me and quickly finished his talk with man. He then led me into the house and locked it. Panic knocked my heart but he slowly opened his bag, took out a pullover and handed it to me.

“Thought you might need it. You had planned for a warmer holiday before. Not a cold one” he said quietly.

“Thanks.” I wore it and waited for the warmth to hug me.

“Take rest and I will be back in the evening. The driver will bring you food shortly.” Then he got up and went out of the house.

There I was standing in the middle of house, brought away from my home here with no one to help me. Horror hung over me. I did not dare to move out of the house and step into the forest. So I did a little exploring inside the house. The house was full of old items, spiders and dust. I decided to clean the place to stop thinking about my problem for a while. I found an old broomstick and I swept and also dusted the rooms and the ceiling. It was hard work but I enjoyed it. I took out the music player and listened to the songs while I did my work. After I had finished my work I felt sticky and clumsy with dirt. I wanted a good shower but there was no water in the bathroom. How am I supposed to be without using the bathroom?

‘Maybe we should go out of the house and see’ Angel suggested. I opened the door and went outside. After walking a few steps, I heard water gushing by. I followed the sound and ended up in a small waterfall. The water was collected in a small pool. I now realized why there was not a proper bathroom in the house. I stripped off my clothes and stepped inside the chill water after examining it for water snakes. I had a good dip and I allowed the falls to wash me. I washed my clothes and laid them to dry.

After finishing my bath, I poured some coffee from the flask that the taxi driver had brought for me. It grew dark and the creature which dumped me here had not yet come. What if horrible animals hunt here? Fear travelled down my spine. Then I reminded myself that horrible animals would not be present in rainforests and comforted myself. I blamed Angel for pulling me into this and sat there sulking as usual. Even she grew frightened of what her superman had done to us. Then suddenly I heard footsteps hurrying towards the door and then someone knocked it. I crawled behind the sofa and waited. The door knob turned and he entered with hands full of plastic bags.

“Mel, where are you?” he shouted and began to search the place. I slowly got out of my hiding, embarrassed. He was shocked for a second and then started to laugh continuously and I could not hold onto my patience.

“What’s so funny?” I enquired angrily.

“What were you doing down there? Hiding?” he continued his laugh.

“What do you expect me to do, silly, leaving me alone in this dark forest without a word. I thought you wanted to punish me here, to find my end, for all I did to you.” I could not finish my sentence and turned away.

“Oh, I am really sorry, Mel. I forgot to say where I was going. It is my fault. I am sorry. And do have this in mind that I don’t want to hurt you and I would not let anything hurt you. Promise.” He caught my hands which I shook off in an instance. He left quickly leaving me alone once again. I went to see the bags he had brought with him. One bag full of dresses, thick clothing for me to stand the weather and another bag of accessories and toiletries. There was a goody bag along with them. Everything was for me. I felt touched and I need not say about Angel. There was another bag of white sheets, markers, paint boxes and brushes. So he really meant this tour as a business trip. As I lifted the bag something heavy and hard fell near my feet. When I recognized what it was, I screamed and clutched the corner wall of the room. He came rushing in his shorts, water dripping all over his body. Probably he was bathing.

“What is it??” he tried to hold me. His cool hands touched my face. “Speak out, Mel. Why did you shout??” he started shaking me. I pointed my finger down the floor where the gun lied. He went across the room, bent and picked it up. Now he walked towards me pointing the gun at me.

The next morning, I got up bright and new. I felt light. I ran out of the house to catch the birds singing. Angel was as overwhelmed as me. I sat down on a rock and looked at the house. Jared had not got up yet. I remembered our conversation last night.

He walked towards me pointing the gun at me and said, “Mel, I got this for you. For your safety. You can use this against anything. Even against me to save yourself.” Saying that he dropped the gun under my feet and I looked unbelievingly at him.

“Do you shoot?” he asked smiling. Of course not. If I had known why would I have screamed? Stupid man. I thought to which Angel grunted. I shook my head.

“It is alright. Get ready for your shooting lessons tomorrow. Good night Mel. Had a very good day with you.” He came near me and lightly kissed my forehead and went outside the room not stopping to look at my face. I stood there dumbstruck by his gesture and I felt embarrassed.

‘Wow. Wasn’t that sweet?’Angel jumped into her dreams with her superman. I felt annoyed, confused, shy and ashamed. Every emotion washed over me. I went to bed and closed my eyes. I disconnected myself from the world and went to sleep.

“Good morning, Mel” called out, Jared. He was in his shorts which made me uncomfortable. He stretched out his hands towards me and I gave mine. He pulled me to do the morning exercises along with him. He took his bath and went to buy our breakfast giving me the privacy to take my bath. I dropped into my sweatpants and T-shirt that he had brought for me. We had our breakfast together talking about our likes and dislikes. We gathered the information about each other. Angel kept a sharp ear for his details noted it down in the mind.

‘Angel. This is too much. What is he to us? Why are you so excited making me uncomfortable?’ I spoke to her.

‘It is ok Mel. Nothing serious.’ She replied without care.

‘I want you to stop this or I would take us home’ I grumbled at her.

‘Alright. Fine yaar.’ And she went